Project to improve ageing facilities at Melton scout camp site is set to move step closer to reality thanks to council grant boost

A view of the current main buildings at the Holwell Pastures scout camp site as seen from the car park EMN-160624-181358001

The Melton Mowbray and District Scout Council is behind the plans to rejuvenate the Holwell Pastures camp site, with planning permission already granted to knock down dilapidated old buildings and replace them with a new purpose-built main building.

The building, which would be timber-framed and timber-cladded on a brick base, will provide 40 bunk bed spaces for young people, flexibly arranged to separately accommodate boys and girls, plus two separate adult bedrooms.

Other features will include modern shower and toilet facilities, for users of the new building and those camping in the fields, a large communal meeting room and adjacent kitchen, a separate large indoor games area and a storage area.

Improvements will also be made to the water and electricity supply as part of the works, with central heating partly powered by solar panels fitted to the roof of the building.

The Melton Mowbray and District Scout Council has already got confirmed funding of about £176,000 towards the project. That sum includes £80,000 from the Leicestershire County Scouts, £30,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation and £25,000 of their own money.

And now Melton Council’s policy, finance and administration committee has been recommended to approve a £25,000 community facility grant towards the scheme.

Derek Fraser, district treasurer of the Melton Mowbray and District Scout Council, said: “If we get this £25,000 grant from the council that will take us past the £200,000 mark so we’ll be very close to getting it done.

“We’d want work to start next spring which would give us the time to raise the rest of the money.”

He added: “I’m fully convinced the large new building with central heating and a big communal meeting room will not only benefit local scouts, giving young people a much better experience being able to sleep indoors, but it will be a venue that lots of other community and youth organisations and companies could use if they wanted to.

“It will be a major asset to the Melton community.”