Latest news with #communityspace
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Inner city Liverpool riding school 'won't give up' despite funding shortfall
A riding school that provides discount pony lessons to inner city children "means everything" to the young people involved, its boss has said. Park Palace Ponies in Dingle, Liverpool, will close on 28 June if it does not raise the nearly £300,000 it needs to secure funding for three have now been given redundancy notices but chairwoman Pamela Allen said they "won't give up without a fight".A fundraising campaign earlier this year raised £4,000, which covered public liability insurance and a riding school licence. The school offers riding lessons to children between the ages of five and is funded by the lessons and had also been relying on donations from a benefactor since it was made a charity last September, but the Good Samaritan can no longer afford to support the school amid rising school previously said it had applied for grants. 'Community purpose' Ms Allen said: "This has been a heartbreaking time."But we're not giving up without a fight. "This space means everything to our young people and our wider community. This is our city." Set up in 2017, the charity has won several awards for its work, including a Queen's Award for Voluntary Karen Scott said: "This is about more than horses. "This is about saving a community space that brings joy, purpose, and unity." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Closure of PMT in Oxford described as 'terrible' and 'a shock'
The closure of a popular musical instrument shop has been described as an "invaluable loss" to Music Technology (PMT) on Cowley Road is one of 11 stores to close down after the retailer entered administration on 11 shop has served the likes of Radiohead and Supergrass and was previously saved from closure after plans to build a restaurant were Nick Cope, who runs music sessions for children and their families in the county, said it had been "a community space for all the bands". "They were always so helpful and it's going to be sorely missed," he said. Gary Good has run musical instrument shop The Music Box on Cowley Road for 27 years and said the news was "a bit of a shock"."You can't do everything online, you can't repair a guitar online - you need a shop to get it to to get it repaired," he said. "We're all struggling with it."Customer Rajeev Bhattacharyya said the value of music instrument shops was "the expertise, the knowledge and the advice you get"."It just feels nice walking into a shop like this, it's part of the Oxford experience," he said, adding that PMT's closure was "terrible"."It's not just about commerce, it's about lifestyle, it's about encouraging children and people to take up music," he said. "It's an invaluable loss." Mr Cope said he would visit PMT with members of his former Oxford band The Candyskins."You would always bump into another member of an Oxford band there, it was a real hub," he said."It is really helpful having a place like that on the high street or on the Cowley Road to get some sort of ideas of equipment that's out there."Mr Cope said it was "fantastic" that The Music Box was still there and wished "best of luck" to PMT staff. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Town Hall gardens £10m revamp inspired by Southport victims
Southport's Town Hall gardens are to undergo a major £10m revamp inspired by Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Aguiar, and Bebe aged seven, Alice, nine, and Bebe, six, were killed in the Southport knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in shared love of dance, music and the arts have inspired the vision for a new town square and community space which will act as a "thank you" to people of Southport for their support in the aftermath of the families hope the space in the heart of the town centre "will become a legacy inspired by our three beautiful and amazing girls" and loved by many generations to come. Elsie, Alice and Bebe's families envision the space as a safe and joyful place, full of energy and creative expression, particularly for Southport's younger said the project, which will be a platform for performers and include regular family-friendly events, was "rooted in love, resilience and unity"."It will be a place of joy, hope and community. A vibrant place where children and families can feel safe, connected and celebrated in the heart of our town," the families said."We wanted to find a way to thank the people of Southport for standing shoulder to shoulder with us.""Your compassion has never wavered and your strength has helped carry us forward." Sefton Council and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have both provided £2.5m for the project with the government allocating £5m to the families thanked Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Sefton Council as well as Liverpool City Region Combined Authority "for listening to our voices and helping us achieve the funding we need for this project".They added: "This is only the beginning, and we all walk forward together with our amazing community in Southport, with purpose and hope."Rayner said: "The strength of everyone in Southport has been beyond words and I am delighted we are able to help with the families' vision to give back to that amazing community, who continue to give everything they can to those families and victims."We are committing £5m to help create a safe community space for connection, reflection, and renewal - a lasting symbol of hope, guided by the strength of the families and wider community."Leader of Sefton Council, councillor Marion Atkinson, said: "A space for joy, culture, and togetherness will reflect Elsie, Alice, and Bebe's vibrancy in a beautifully positive way. "The Town Hall gardens and the Atkinson were where the community came together in their grief, demonstrating Southport's incredible strength."It was a place of togetherness then, it is a place of togetherness now, and it will be for years to come."The regeneration will create a dynamic, family-friendly stage for creativity, celebrating the love for dance and the arts that meant so much to the girls."Southport's MP Patrick Hurley said: "This legacy project, to renovate, refurbish and remodel the gardens outside The Atkinson will be a nod to their memory and a flare of bright optimism for the future of Southport."He said the community gathered "spontaneously and collectively" in the gardens outside The Atkinson, "standing defiantly in the face of evil".The Labour MP added: "So it is fitting that as time goes on, these gardens are at the heart of the proposal for the renewal of Southport, not just to acknowledge the awful events of July, but more importantly, to recognise the spirit of the town, its people and the families of those affected in bringing Southport back into the light." Metro mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, said: "Few places capture the heart and soul of a community quite like Southport's Town Hall gardens."It became a place of reflection, resilience and unity where thousands came together to grieve, to support one another, and to stand as one."He said: "This regeneration is a powerful opportunity to give something back to that same community; a lasting symbol of hope and joy."By putting children, families and the arts at its core, we're creating a space that honours the memory of Elsie, Alice and Bebe in the most meaningful way: by inspiring future generations." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Blenheim food truck owners face uncertainty after council buys site
By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter Peter Blaha, owner of food truck DFC Bakery, hopes to stay on at the High St site that was bought by the Marlborough District Council in May. Photo: LDR / Kira Carrington The owners of several food trucks on a vacant central Blenheim lot are worried they will be turfed out after the land was bought by the Marlborough District Council. The 1147m² property, spanning five titles between High St and Wynen St, beside Te Kahu o Waipuna, was bought by the council in May for $1.8 million. Mayor Nadine Taylor said the site was earmarked for development as a community space, and the council would seek input from the public as it explored options. One of the food truck owners, Peter Blaha of DFC Artisan Bakery, said he was notified by the owner about two weeks before the sale that the land was to be sold. Blaha said he hoped the council would allow them to stay put. "I would be happy if we can make some deal with them," Blaha said. "We are small businesses … You invest your money into [the business]. I feed my family, I pay the taxes as well." The food truck owners like parking up in the space next to Blenheim's new library and art gallery, Te Kahu o Waipuna. Photo: LDR / Kira Carrington Blaha said the council could incorporate the food trucks into a space that would attract more foot traffic to the CBD. He reckoned the lot could fit 100 people. "You can make [some] kind of small market here, even a small festival," Blaha said. Boseong Jeong, owner of food truck Sasa Express, said while she would have to close shortly as she was pregnant, she was also hopeful that a long-term arrangement could be made that allowed her to stay on at the site. Alson Su, owner of Orange Eats, said he had already been given notice to leave. "They told us the latest we could let this place is mid-June," Su said. "We are still waiting for some other places to move over [to]." A council spokesperson said that under the Reserves and Other Public Places Bylaw 2017, nobody could conduct commercial activity on public land without the council's written approval. "When mobile food truck owners have approached council for space in the CBD in the past, these applications have been declined in deference to other rate paying businesses in the CBD," the spokesperson said. "However, in this instance, council is prepared to work with the food truck operators to both understand their previous arrangements and to look at suitable options going forward." Anna Hamman, owner of neighbouring business The Sewing Store, said it would be great if the trucks could stay. "The food trucks have been a welcome addition actually. It's been quite nice knowing that there's a few little local businesses having a spot there." Jay Sirichan hopes a new community development in the empty lot will bring people back into central Blenheim. Photo: LDR / Kira Carrington Jay Sirichan, owner of nearby Japanese restaurant Bento, said the central Blenheim businesses could do with a new attraction. "Business is quite slow. "I would like a new space to make things more interesting for the people in town. "The new library is very good. In the weekend there are a lot of people with their kids. But just, I think it's not enough." * LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Former landfill site in Farnham earmarked for redevelopment
A council is asking people for ideas about how best to transform a former landfill site in site in Weydon, Farnham, served as a landfill from the 1950s until the 1980s when it was closed and sealed with clay to minimise its effect on the Borough Council said the clay covering required extensive repairs, but that it hoped to open a new park at the site by can share their ideas about what should be done to the site, known locally as Brambleton Park, through an online survey until 13 July. Councillor Mark Merryweather, the council's portfolio holder for finance, assets and property, said: "We are still in the early stages of planning, but now is the ideal opportunity for local residents to have a direct influence on the future direction of the project."Over the years, many ideas have been suggested for this site but transforming a former landfill into a genuine and sustainable community space is no small task."We have completed extensive environmental assessments and now we're eager to engage with the community and gather their valuable input."The council has suggested ideas such as an outdoor gym, a café, a children's playground or even a cycling pump track for the 10-acre results from the survey will be used to form a business case. If this is approved by the council, initial plans for the site will be copies of the survey are also available at Farnham Town Council in South Street.
