Friends of Waterton’s Wall Website
● Last month we became a registered charity. This is important because it reduces individual liability for members of the committee (Trustees), allows us access to larger grants and has tax advantages e.g. Gift Aid.
● WMDC has awarded us a Neighbourhood Improvement Fund grant of £1000. The grant will pay for, among other things, the professional production of our masterplan, an update to our website and a revamped pamphlet. We are grateful to our District Councillors for their encouragement and support in applying for this money.
● The annual Classic Car Show was a great success. Nearly 200 people visited our stand. Working for Walton (W4W) has pledged us a proportion of the proceeds from the day. Thank you W4W.
● An ongoing challenge has been establishing ownership of the wall. However, we know the stretch that WMDC owns and recently the owners of the land that the golf club occupies have sent us some interesting information that we still need time to digest. Progress is being made.
● The AGM was held on Tuesday 18 July in Walton Community Library. It was a convivial affair.
● We have had a site meeting with Historic England. Their detailed response suggests a number of ways going forward including listing it as a Grade II* curtilage, listing as a structure in its own right, and registering the whole area as a ‘Registered Park and Garden’. We have much to consider both practically and strategically without diverting our energies from our short-term goals for 2026.
● Going forward we need to build the capacity of the charity. Committee members have given generously of their time – they are an enthusiastic, supportive, creative and hardworking group. But there are only so many hours in the day! Please consider being a Trustee of the charity or someone that attends meetings and wants to help move things forward.
● In the near future we need to formalise membership of the charity and we will write later in the year with information on that.
● This is our first newsletter as a charity. The efforts of the Committee over the last two years, and many people beyond, are worth mentioning. We are grateful for all that they have done to put us into a strong position.
● The first meeting of Trustees is on Tuesday 19 September in Walton Community Library at 7pm. Feel free to join us.