THE council has finally approved planning permission for a charity to build a new hall for Scouts and Guides, who have been without a permanent base for years.

The Old Basing Scout and Guide Hall charity project has been fundraising to build a brand-new hall on Milkingpen Lane in Old Basing, after the site was previously rendered unusable after flood damage in January 2009.

Despite already raising £100,000 they were unable to extend fundraising efforts until planning is approved.

SEE MORE: Scouts and Guides fight to build permanent base but still await planning approval

Now Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council have finally given the approval meaning fundraising can be taken up a step.

Andy Molloy, trustee of The Old Basing Scout and Guide Hall charity, said: “It is fantastic that we have finally got planning consent from the council and this massive worry has now been resolved.

“It is now all systems go to get the hall built in the next three years and we are all delighted after waiting for so long, it is one massive relief.”

Andy hopes to build the hall by 2025.

He added: “We still have a lot of money to raise before we can build the new hall but our confidence is growing now that we have permission to build.

“While we have been waiting for planning consent we have been working hard to improve the land that we hold in Trust for local Scouts & Guides. We have cut our way into some of the overgrown areas and made routes that are weave around areas that remain less managed. Our hope is to encourage further biodiversity while maintaining good habitat that already exists on our site.”

Basingstoke Gazette: The site nowThe site now

In order to kick start a big push for funding the charity are holding a Village Family Fun day on Saturday, June 18.

Andy said: “Our day will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the long service of Girl Guiding and Scouting in our village and many more good things about our community that can be celebrated in the great outdoors with good food, light refreshments, games and other communal activities. Our greatest hope is that people of all ages and abilities will come along to see our site and appreciate what a fabulous setting it is for local young people to learn about the countryside.”

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Before the decision, Tom Payne, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s interim executive director of residents’ services, said: “A planning application for the Old Basing Scout Hut was submitted to the borough council in September 2019.

“Further information about the surface water drainage proposals was requested by Hampshire County Council as the lead local flood authority and this information was provided in July 2021.

“As part of the planning application process, further consultation with the county council was undertaken and further information was requested. This additional information was received in December 2021 and in January, the county council confirmed they are satisfied with the surface water drainage proposals."

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