December 2021 Newsletter
Dear Friends of Dorking Pandemic Bandstand,
A brief update on our recent actions and a specific request for help!
Since we last wrote, we have:
– continued to engage with organisations and individuals over our plans, giving more presentations and collecting signatures of support from individuals and relevant groups;
– started to seek donations and sponsorship from local businesses;
– met to discuss refreshing our website and developing our social media presence;
– started the process of seeking actual quotes from potential suppliers of the bandstand – exciting!
We have also had very useful discussions with those who run neighbouring bandstands – particularly Godalming – about how to go about managing things in practice and the pitfalls to be avoided. It is clear that many councils now regard their bandstand as a great community asset, bringing really diverse parts of their communities together.
Request for help
With our request for planning permission now submitted the public consultation is underway. The letters written in response so far paint a very unbalanced picture with few positive submissions despite the hundreds of supportive comments we have recorded!
It would help the project considerably to give a balanced view to our councillors, therefore, if you could take a few minutes to submit your views in support – if you are able. We would very much appreciate it!
In writing, you could include the aims of the project: to provide a fitting tribute to the work of the NHS, key workers and volunteers; to create a suitable memorial to those who have suffered during the pandemic as well as to provide a lasting community asset by way of a flexible public performance venue in the centre of Dorking. It seems that not everyone realises fully the three distinct aims of the project.
Submitting your views is easily done either by the link on our website or by visiting the MVDC planning portal and searching for the application MO/2021/1989. The council will also accept letters submitted in the normal way and hand written notes.
Kindest regards
The Trustees,
Dorking Pandemic Community Bandstand