Picture perfect for Essex village's ambitious pavilion fund

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition was held in Great Bardfield as the village bids to keep alive its ambitious �1.3million pavilion and playing field project. The aim of the exhibition – held at the town hall at the weekend – was to invite local people to submit p

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition was held in Great Bardfield as the village bids to keep alive its ambitious �1.3million pavilion and playing field project.

The aim of the exhibition - held at the town hall at the weekend - was to invite local people to submit photographs of the village. Visitors were then asked to vote for their favourites, with the top 12 then being used in the 2010 Great Bardfield Calendar.

All proceeds raised from the exhibition and the competition go towards the village's ambitious project of creating an impressive sporting facility.

Project leader, Steve Slemmings, hailed the fundraising initiative a success. He said: "Both days were lively and animated as visitors deliberated over the photographs. People found it fun and difficult to judge.

"We had almost 130 completed forms which are still being analysed but with a very high standard of photography an excellent calendar is guaranteed."

He added: "Our fundraising is organised at two levels: large funding opportunities that will pay the bulk of the cost of the development and more localised fundraising.

"Both are absolutely essential, especially the local fundraising as this provides the evidence that the community commitment and general enthusiasm for the project really exists within the village which is exactly what the photographic competition has done."

The pavilion project comes on the back of a village appraisal carried out in 2002, which highlighted an urgent need for improved sporting facilities for the village.

Externally the project will provide a floodlit multi-use games area, new drainage for the football pitches, new children's playground and outdoor gym, as well as larger car park and new vehicle and pedestrian access.

A new two-storey pavilion, utilising all appropriate methods of reducing its carbon footprint, has been designed with the specific needs of the ever-expanding football club and flourishing youth club. It will also be appropriate for use by any local organisation from Great Bardfield and the surrounding villages.

Planning permission for the project was approved by Braintree District Council in April 2008 and drawings for building regulations are currently in progress. It is hoped work will commence in Summer 2011 for completion in Summer 2012.