Are We There Yet?
Immediately subsequent to a very successful public meeting might be a good point at which to take stock of to where weโve got so far. Quite a long way, it turns out. Via the parish council a community interest in the Cross Guns has been registered, which means that thereโs a six month moratorium on bids from anything other than a community group.ย
During those six months we need to keep the pledges coming in โ these provide a good measure of growing support โ research the condition and value of the property, create the necessary legal entity that would own the pub, put together the business case, make good on the pledges, and make the purchase โ or at least get the last well under way.
So far, 90 people have pledged a total of ยฃ107k, a fantastic achievement, and suggestive that we ought to be able to raise the necessary ยฃ500k. 90 people are just 4.5% of the population of Pant, yet the pledges add up to 21% of the sum needed. Thereโs thus plenty of headroom for more support.ย
Itโs really important that we receive more pledges, as it will then be possible to move on to the next steps along the way. The further we can get, the more it will be possible to answer the questions that people have. The more questions that can be answered, the more pledges weโll receive. And so on round a virtuous circle.ย
Doubtless, weโll have more public meetings along the way, sharing the latest news and the next steps. At the first one, we learned that there are over 200 community-owned pubs; and that setting up and maintaining a community pub is hard work, requiring both ongoing patronage from the local community, plus active support from this.ย
But the five-year survival rate of community-owned pubs is an impressive 97.5%. So it can very much be done, and the effort is worth it. With 78% of the survey respondents saying that it is Very Important or Important that we have a pub in Pant, thereโs no reason why we canโt succeed, too, if enough people pledge their support, and/or otherwise help out.
Pledging support and later making good on that pledge represent a social investment for the good of current and future villagers. Just as our forebears and predecessors in the village made it possible for us to meet in the memorial hall. Thereโs the added potential bonus of increased community engagement on a wider front, as referenced by both speakers at the public meeting.ย
So, right now, what is really needed is more pledges. Itโs natural, in the early days of a project such as this, for some to be hesitant until itโs clear that the aims can indeed be achieved. That now looks to be the case. Itโs critical that we take maximum advantage of the six-month moratorium, as weโll only get one go at this during that period. If we donโt take the Cross Guns into community ownership, itโs highly likely that Pant will never again have a village pub.
The time to act is thus now. Please make your pledges as soon as you can. Itโs now less than five weeks until Christmas, so perhaps consider a present in the form of a pledge on behalf of a friend or relative โ or for yourself?
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Hard to believe how far we have come in such a short time, but also a humble reminder that there is much more work ahead if we are to be successful.