A successful public meeting was held in the Mechanics Institute at Kirkby Malzeard on the 17th June.The meeting was well attended with 40 – 50 people in the audience and representatives from CAMRA, the George and Dragon Pub and the charity “Locality” were in attendance ..
After a review of the first meeting, an open question and answer session was instigated where any person could ask any question regarding the HJCP plans for the future of the Henry Jenkins
The existing owners of both parts of the property, David Fielder & Justin Claybourn were in attendance and engaged in the lively debate. During the discussion, Justin Claybourn revealed that his property, the so-called ‘eastern annexe’, which he was calling the ‘Old Joiners Shop’, was also up for sale.
Towards the end of the meeting, a member of the audience urged both parties to arrange a meeting to properly discuss the possible purchase of the site by the HJCP and pushed for a provisional date to be agreed then and there, in front of the live audience.
All parties agreed to meet, on a date after the 10th July, at a place and time specified by Mr Fielder.
Both the public and residents meetings in the MIVH, were professionally produced, with information projected onto a large screen, and formal presentations given by the HJCP Management Committee and the guest speakers. They have helped inform the community about the Business Plan & Share Offer (both audited and granted a Standard Mark (Kite Mark) by the Community Shares Unit), and the campaign to purchase and refurbish the pub, with reference to other successful similar campaigns from around the UK