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Save Our Greenspace: Support the Llanigon Rainbow Project

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Hi, My name is Christine Outhwaite. I started school at the old church school in Llanigon in the early 60's.

Our History and Community Significance
It was a small classroom with a curtain that divided the infants from the juniors. As time went by, more children were attending, and it was becoming a tight squeeze for all of us. The playground was getting very crowded when we went out for play time.
I was too young to understand the politics at that time because all you wanted to do at school was to be with your friends.
When we heard a new school was going to be built in the village, this created great excitement for us, and a great achievement for the adult generation in the community.

The day arrived when we were all going to move into the new Llanigon School, which was just down the road. We all carried our chairs down to the new school, full of chatter and excitement. The school had larger classrooms, no curtains, a beautiful large playground to play in with our friends.

The new school became a community Hub. The Young Farmers Club (YFC), the Sewing Club, the Women's Institute (WI) were just a few of the groups who organised the varied events and social activities which allowed the whole community to enjoy the use of the school and the site as an important community space.

Unfortunately, Llanigon School was closed in 2014, leaving a large social gap, with no available outside space for local children and their community to meet up and enjoy. Despite our community persistently asking Powys County Council to allow our local community to have the site for the wellbeing of all, we were unable to get a satisfactory response.

In early 2021, Rosemary Vaughan and myself decided to visit every household in Llanigon Parish to petition for the right to obtain our school site including the surrounding green space for the community. Those were cold, wet and dark evenings, when we had both finished work for the day, off the two of us went, driving miles around the community talking to Llanigon Parish residents. We got 235 signatures, almost 90% of the local community gave their support for the petition. This was outstanding. Everyone wanted to have a green community space at the Llanigon School site.

We presented this petition to Powys County Council and the battle began.

What is Happening Now
Since Llanigon Primary School closed, our community has been dedicated to preserving the site’s legacy and ensuring its future for generations to come. We need your support to raise £150,000 to purchase and secure this precious community space.

Powys County Council initially rejected the Llanigon Community Council's 'Expression of Interest' and sold the site from the Education Dept to the Housing Dept in Powys local government for £150,000. Despite our protests and a petition signed by 235 residents, Housing announced plans to develop the school site.

Our village has already seen a 30% increase in housing stock, and the school grounds were our only community greenspace, accessible to residents since 1965. We highlighted that the site was originally sold to the council at a low price by the Jones family of Llanthomas Farm, just before the deadline for government grants to build new schools expired.
Despite our appeals on moral grounds and the wellbeing of the community, and even though the site was listed as a community asset by Powys, our efforts seemed to fall on deaf ears. However, in a surprising turn of events, Housing decided not to develop the site.

We resubmitted our Expression of Interest, and this time, it was accepted. Powys Council has agreed to transfer the asset to Llanigon Community Council. However, we must repay the £150,000 that the Powys Council Housing Dept paid for it. While we have ethical concerns about this condition, it is the deal on the table.

If no action is taken, the site will be lost to the community within 6 to 12 months.

How You Can Help

Your generous donation will go towards:

Securing the funds to purchase the site.

Together, we can ensure that Llanigon’s treasured green space is protected and nurtured, just as it was intended. We appreciate any support you can give, whether it’s a donation or sharing this campaign with your networks.

Thank you for helping us keep Llanigon’s community spirit alive!

Donate today and become a part of the Llanigon Rainbow Campaign!

Christine Outhwaite
Chairperson
Llanigon Community Council

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Donations 

  • Rilla Morries
    • £20
    • 13 d
  • Anonymous
    • £10
    • 28 d
  • Anonymous
    • £20
    • 2 mos
  • Anonymous
    • £10
    • 3 mos
  • Anonymous
    • £5
    • 3 mos
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Fundraising team: Fundraiser Team (3)

Christine Outhwaite
Organizer
Wales
Rosemary Vaughan
Beneficiary
Kasie Jenkins
Team member
Marva Lord
Team member

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