Plans to sell off Newbury Showground abandoned
Current board of agricultural society to resign after failing to be supported by members
Last updated 14th Sep 2021
The board of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society is stepping down after a membership coup.
But they have fired a retreating salvo in a statement issued on Facebook – saying ‘they (the membership) do not seem to recognise the seriousness of the Society’s financial problems which go back many years .’
They are all expected to resign once a further meeting has been set up to find a new board, and added in the statement that they are ‘very concerned’ that those who will be setting the future strategy and direction of the Society must recognise it’s primary charitable objectives as an educational charity.
The statement said:
“Those who have identified themselves as opposing the current trustees’ strategy have thus far made little reference in their communications to education and helping young people, rather focusing on retaining ownership of the Showground and the holding of the Royal County of Berkshire Show at all costs. Furthermore, they do not seem to recognise the seriousness of the Society’s financial problems which go back many years and which the trustees have done their best to stem, but which have been made much worse by the COVID pandemic.”
Campaign
The majority of its own membership sided with a campaign to halt negotiations to sell off the ground. More than 200 society members turned up in person to make themselves heard on Monday night – complete with camping chairs and blankets to sit through the meeting held in the cattle barn. A further 140 members voted by proxy.
Frustration was evident, some describing the situation as ‘sad’, ‘desperate’ and ‘inept’, placing the blame firmly on what they termed the board’s ‘lack of experience’.
Michael Bissell has been involved in numerous roles at the Showground for more than 55 years. Now a member, he said he was very sad and disappointed at the turn of events.
“For it to come to this is a disaster,” he said. “The expenses have gone up and we have not controlled them. This is where the problem lies. Our backstop in investments have dwindled away with ridiculous spending.”
Vicky Trentham was an architect of the Save Our Showground campaign.
“I think a change is good,” she said. “I have been involved with the showground all my life. My grandfather levelled the ground we are now standing on. I have even got my name on the gate!
“There were an awful lot of people locally in the communities of Hermitage and Chievley do not want any development on this site.
“We asked people through our website poll what they wanted to happen. 98 per cent of more than 500 people want it to be used and the restrictions lifted so it can have the extra seven months of trading opportunity. Nobody was going out there to look at these opportunities. We really need a board which will get these things done.”