Community Group Reaches Fundraising Goal for Green Space Purchase

Contracts could soon be exchanged after a campaign organization successfully raised £300,000 to acquire a green area, following a “wonderful community response.” The Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society (HVCBS) is set to purchase the 102-acre Thrupp Farm in Stroud, which is locally known as the Heavens. The HVCBS required £850,000 in total to buy the site. Two members of the community pledged £550,000, with the remaining £300,000 secured through fundraising efforts and the sale of shares. This acquisition concludes the initial phase of the campaign aimed at bringing the site into community ownership. A HVCBS spokesperson stated: “We have now raised enough money to go ahead with the purchase of Thrupp Farm in Stroud.” Solicitors are currently preparing the necessary documents and finalizing the details required for the HVCBS and the seller to exchange contracts. More than 600 individuals bought shares to help secure the site’s future, but the society indicated that further fundraising work remains to be done. The HVCBS explained that the next phase will involve raising an additional £550,000 to repay the loans, as the lenders will, technically, hold some ownership of the site until the repayments are completed. Karen Thomas, a member of the HVCBS involved in negotiating the purchase, said the campaign group plans to intensify its fundraising efforts for the subsequent phase. Ms Thomas stated: “Our lenders want this beautiful land to be completely owned by the CBS as they are themselves part of the local community and are not in a position to manage large areas of public land themselves.” She added: “So we will be redoubling our fundraising efforts and we are confident that the community will continue its support.”