About the Anson Trust

What are the Trust's aims and vision?

Over the past few years the Trust has been seeking to establish itself on a sounder footing and to improve significantly its contribution to the leisure facilities and social life of Marcham. The first task was to update and modernise the operation and management of the Trust. This was a slow process requiring protracted and detailed discussions and dealings with the Charity Commissioners. The outcome was a revised scheme and the creation of the company which now manages the Trust and has widened the governance of the Trust by introducing additional representation (Directors).

That has been accomplished and the Trust has now set itself on the path of recreating the original Trust in a twenty first century context. When it was established the Trust provided a new community centre, sports facilities, an endowment to provide income to support operations and some property which could be rented by villagers. The Trust's present scheme is to establish a new community centre, designed for the current and future needs of Marcham, first class sports and recreational facilities, a small number of houses owned by the Trust, which can be rented out to villagers, all underpinned by an endowment substantial enough to support all operations.

The means of achieving that vision is by creating the facilities on land north of Hyde Copse and funding that by development of the Anson Field and disposal of the Institute site.

What is the financial history of the Anson Trust?

You can view the Anson Trust's accounts from year end 1999 to 2006 online in PDF format by clicking here. Please note that there are two sets of accounts for 2005; one is a continuation of the previous accounts for the original Trust and the other is for the new limited company (Arthur Anson Memorial Trust Ltd). From 2006 onwards, there will be one set of joint accounts, as agreed with the Charity Commission.

If you would like to discuss these accounts please don't hesitate to contact us using the contact details provided on this website.

What is happening with regard to the case being brought by the Ex Servicemen's Club?

The case concerns the Ex Servicemen's Club's rights with respect to the car park of the Institute. Following the Trust's announcement of its plans, a settlement has been proposed by the solicitors representing the Ex Servicemen's Club and that proposal has been accepted by the Trust. A document incorporating the settlement is being drafted by the solicitors representing the Ex Servicemen's Club. Once this has been produced and signed by both parties, the dispute will be at an end and the court case obviated.

Why can the Trust not hand over control of the Institute and the Anson Field to the Parish Council and let them run it?

It is extremely unlikely that the Charity Commissioners would allow the Trust to cede ownership of either property to the Parish Council. It would be possible for the Trust to grant a lease or a licence to the Parish Council for one or both but the Charity Commissioners would require such lease or licence to be on commercial terms.

The Proposals

What are the proposals?

The Anson Trust is in the process of developing proposals to invigorate the village's provision of community facilities. We are planning to build new facilities on land to the northern edge of Marcham. This land was decided upon following extensive consultation with professional advisers and local landowners.

A new village hall and playing fields will be built with access leading to Howard Cornish Road. The new playing fields will be to Sport England standard the national advisory body on the types of sports facilities needed by communities in the future and ensuring they will be an improvement on those currently in use.

All of this could be made possible through a residential development on the current Anson Field. These new homes would be sensitively designed to complement the village and the surrounding area.

When will we know what's happening on the Anson field?

The Trust has already outlined its general intention with respect to development of the Anson Field and has received a number of comments, which it will consider carefully. Once detailed plans have been drawn up these will be shared with interested parties including the Parish Council and villagers. The detailed plans will form the basis of a submission to the Vale of White Horse District Council for planning consent.

The detailed plans will have to take account of a number of requirements and constraints. The comments that have been received, the requirements of the Charity Commissioners, any planning requirements of the Vale of White Horse District Council, and the need for the Trust to achieve a sufficient level of endowment will all influence and be reflected in the plans.

What will the new facilities consist of?

The new facilities will be designed to accommodate the needs of the local community. We will be listening to what the residents want and making every effort to provide it. Whatever the new facilities are, they will certainly be to the highest "Sport England" standard.

How much involvement will the community have in developing the plans for the new facitilies?

A lot! The Anson Trust want to make sure that the new facilities will be enjoyed by everyone. We are encouraging local residents to contact us and let us know their thoughts on what Marcham needs in the way of sporting and leisure facilities. This is the time to get in touch as we begin to formulate the more detailed plans.

What will happen to the Institute?

In line with the Trust's vision the Institute will eventually be disposed of in order to provide part of the funds for the realisation of the vision. What happens to the site will be dependent upon the wishes of the purchaser and the requirements of the Vale of White Horse District Council, if the purchaser wishes to develop the site.

Will these proposals have the effect of ripping the heart out of the village?

Anson Trust believes this will not be the case as new community facilities will still be within walking distance of the village and with so much extra space there is great potential to provide the best possible facilities for the residents of Marcham.

The Anson Field was traditionally located on the outskirts of Marcham and it is only in the last forty years, as the village has grown, that the field has become more central.

What is happening to Marcham School?

Any development will be subject to the wishes and will of Oxfordshire County Council and Marcham School. However, there is a possibility that a new school, to replace the existing one, could be constructed close by the proposed new community building with the potential for some joint use of facilities (as is the case presently with the tennis courts at the school). However, the Trust will have no part to play or influence in any decision.

Why have the Trust chosen this plan rather than some alternative?

As is well known the Trust has contemplated a number of alternative possibilities but ultimately the Trust decided to adopt the bold vision described above which could reinvigorate the Trust's contribution to the life of Marcham and provide a sound basis for the future. The Directors were unanimous in deciding upon this course.

Below is a summary of the alternatives that were available to the Trust.

1) Do nothing

Some people have suggested that the existing facilities are in fact adequate and there is no need to take any action to improve them.

Why it wouldn't work:

• Without the realisation of some assets the Trust has no funds available to it, in fact it has borrowed from its endowment. The existing facilities would simply have to close and be sold.

2) Sell the Institute car park for development and renovate the Institute

Why it wouldn't work:

• This was a course which the Trust had looked to pursue a few years ago. However, given the protracted delays faced by the Trust, as a result of the threatened court case, and given the rapidly deteriorating financial position of the Trust, the sums simply didn't add up. The renovation of the Institute, which is not a building suitable for modern needs, would have left insufficient funds available to replace the buildings on the Anson Field, which must be replaced in the near future.

3) Sell the Institute and redevelop on the Anson Field

This was also a course that was seriously considered by the Trust.

Why it wouldn't work:

• When the Institute was put up for sale, it became clear that it could not achieve its full market potential under prevailing circumstances and the sum which would be released would be insufficient to provide adequate facilities and provide an endowment substantial enough to fund the Trust into the future.

4) Lottery funding

The Trust looked at the possibility of obtaining lottery funding to help improve the recreational and sport facilities in Marcham.

Why it wouldn't work:

We sought professional advice about how to go about this and it was concluded that:

• The process of applying for lottery funding is significantly expensive whilst the likelihood of winning lottery funding based on postcode and area evaluation was minimal.

In the end the Trust concluded that there was a one in a lifetime opportunity to provide the village with radically improved facilities underpinned by a substantial endowment which will enable the Trust to fulfil its historic role in the village.

How is Marcham different to other villages?

At the exhibition a number of residents made comparisons with other villages nearby and asked why it is that whilst other parishes can maintain their village halls, Marcham cannot. The answer is that Marcham is unusual and is not like neighbouring villages, in that it is not controlled by its Parish Council. As a charity, the Anson Trust is a not-for-profit organisation and is dedicated to providing the best future for Marcham, with the interests of the village at heart. Sometimes, however, the Anson Trust is restricted by the strict controls enforced by the Charity Commission whose requirements ultimately dictate many of the major decisions of the Trust.

What is the timescale for the submission of a planning application for the new facilities and the Anson Field?

As we are still in the very early stages of the planning process, we do not have a firm date for the submission of a planning application. However, we would like to submit an application to the Vale of White Horse District Council sometime next year.

Can the new homes be built on the edge of the village instead of the Anson Field?

It would not be possible for the new homes to be developed on the edge of the village as planning policy clearly states that this land is only suitable for agricultural uses or in exceptional circumstances for affordable housing. Community uses themselves need to be treated as a special exception to current planning policies to be justified on the basis of the benefits they would bring to Marcham as a village.

Will villagers still have a green space in the centre of the village?

A village green space will be retained on the Anson Field and the existing play area will be retained or relocated. These will be available for all residents of the village in addition to the proposed community/leisure facilities at the edge of the village.

Has the Vale of White Horse District Council had much in this proposal?

We have held initial informal discussions with planning officers at the Vale of White Horse.