1970 Apr 7, suggestions from the Finance & General Purposes Committee of the PCC concerning Vine Cottage

Memo from the Finance & General Purposes Committee of the PCC concerning informal discussions between Mr M L Gorham and Mr P S Tucker about Vine Cottage, at which four suggestions had evolved:

• Suggestion 1 – To buy the Meeting House (this was the Friends’ Meeting House, further along Chapel Street) if the owners were willing to sell, and to refurbish Vine Cottage and let it at an increased rent.
• Suggestion 2 – Refurbish Vine Cottage and move the occupier of Rose Cottage into it at an increased rent, then renovate Rose Cottage for letting at an increased rent, taking advantage of improvement grants.
• Suggestion 3 – As suggestion 2 but, in addition, erect a temporary wooden building to act as a church hall and sever all connections with the Meeting House.
• Suggestion 4 – Pull down Vine and Rose Cottages and clear the ground for conversion into a car park and erect a temporary wooden building as in suggestion 3.

It was agreed to set up a committee comprising Mr Gorham, Mr Tucker, Mrs Betteridge and Mr David Brazier (to serve as building and construction adviser).