News on HS2 in Bucks & Oxfordshire

Four new projects in Buckinghamshire and one new project in Oxfordshire have been awarded as part of the HS2 Community and Business Funds.

Finmere Parish Council’s ‘Operation Finmere’ project will improve the village hall and playing field to modernise the facilities and make them easier to use. The roof will be replaced and an extension added to create an extra function room allowing for a wider variety of bookings and events, as well as greater storage space. New doors and a patio area will improve access to the playing fields from the hall, making it easier and safer. The repairs and improvements to the hall will ensure it is a place where people want to spend time taking part in activities including: yoga, pilates, coffee mornings, children’s groups, training and education, dancing and quizzes.

Waddesdon Bowls Club is a Community Amateur Sports Club that is located in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. Their improvement project will provide enhanced kitchen facilities, new green maintenance equipment and better access to the green for older and disabled members.

Ludgershall Parish Council’s project to replace the existing playground equipment on the village green will provide a safe area for children of all ages and abilities to play, socialise and enjoy physical activity. Improvements will include a new surface, toddler and infant equipment such as swings, wooden low-level fitness trails for children with a range of abilities and special needs, a new zip wire and play equipment for juniors.

This project will allow Great Missenden Parish Council to make improvements to the village Memorial Centre. The current doors and windows will be replaced, enhancing the appearance of the building and increasing its energy efficiency. The project will also provide a new suspended ceiling for the main hall, upgraded lighting, a strip and re-polish of the wooden floor and complete redecoration throughout. A hearing loop will also be installed.

The Chiltern Citizens Advice Bureau Limited ’s Prestwood Integrated Outreach pilot project is designed to expand and improve the current outreach services in the village. The current outreach programme runs one day a week, supporting people in the community who may not be able to get to the CAB premises. Funding will provide additional outreach worker hours and create a hub with a video/voice call-enabled tablet that connects directly to qualified volunteer advisers in the Amersham office, allowing people to access support when the outreach worker is unavailable.

Our Community and Environment Fund (CEF) and the Business and Local Economy Fund (BLEF) for Phase One are worth £40 million. They give local communities and businesses disrupted by the construction of HS2 the opportunity to receive funding of up to £1 million for projects to improve their local area or support their local economy.

The community and business funds are administered and managed by independent community charity, Groundwork UK. For more information on Groundwork and the funds, including how to apply, visit https://hs2funds.org.uk/ .

You can also watch our short videos which explain how to best demonstrate that your project meets the criteria for the Community, Environment or Business Funds.

If you have any questions about the Community and Business Funds, HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .