Thanks to all who attended our recent AGM. It was great to get such a good attendance on our Zoom call.
The new Board that was elected at the 2020 AGM is as follows:
Member Directors:
- Helen Corcoran, Chair
- Grace Murray, Vice Chair
- Martin Ford-Downes, Secretary
- Eibhlin Mc Hugh, Treasurer
- Bob Howarth
- David Montgomery
- Tom Parnell
Co-opted Directors:
- Jenny Mushlin (Community Council)
- Andy Anderson (Scottish Borders Council)
We’re delighted to welcome our two new members who are joining the Board for the first time. Martin Ford-Downes has lived in Stow for several years and brings to the Board a wealth of experience with a development trust in West Lothian and Jenny Mushlin brings a Fountainhall perspective to the Board as well as extensive experience across the voluntary sector.
Those of you who are following us on Facebook will see how the building is taking shape. I’m sure you will be as pleased as we are with the light and airy feel to the building that is emerging. We’re working hard to ensure that the fit out and interior design builds on this and is respectful of the building’s heritage. “The Station House” sign (name agreed at our last community meeting in February 2020) will be erected on the platform side shortly. Although the target completion date agreed following lockdown was the 19th of January given the continuing uncertainty there will be further slippage to this date. We are now ready to start the recruitment process for a tenant to lease the bar/kitchen in January 2021.
A recent board meeting agreed proposals from the cycle hub steering group for the establishment of a social enterprise that will provide a bike repair and refurbishment service alongside community activities to support both active travel and leisure cycling around Stow. Funding has already been secured for tools and other equipment for the cycle hub from the Climate Change Assets Fund and an application has been submitted to the Energy Saving Trust for funding for a community e-bike project for Stow and Fountainhall. We should hear in January 2021 if our application is successful. The information that the recent survey provided was really helpful for these funding applications that we’re pursuing to get the cycle hub up and running.