Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 4 February 2021

MEMBERS of Higham-on-the-Hill’s Save The Oddfellows Pub group, best known as ‘S.T.O.P’, have established their very own community company, in which generous fundraisers can purchase shares in pledges, to help them acquire the former village pub building.

The group, made up of determined and eager villagers who want to save their beloved former community pub, have been holding talks with developers in a bid to ‘push forward’ with their plans to buy the building, to save it from being used for development works.

The community company, named the Higham Community Benefit Society Limited, was only launched recently – those willing to help will be able to pledge to buy shares in the company at just £50 each, but they can be purchased in bundles.

Pledges in the shares are non-binding and only constitute an expression of interest, but S.T.O.P. have explained that they are ‘vital’ to the steering group to show the level of funding that the village can give to show their interest in saving ‘The Oddies’.

Those with further with inquiries and wishing to hear more information about purchasing shares can email shares.theoddies@gmail.com for more details.

It has been suggested, through the value of the pub, that over £275,000 and the additional refurbishment costs, would have to be raised to make the plans become a reality.

In a blog post penned for their website, The Group’s Secretary, said: “We envisage a bar, restaurant, meeting space, gardens and outside space.

“The ideas shared by the community are at the heart of our plans”.

The Plunkett Organisation, a group who specialise in community projects, are backing the project.

The property was purchased by a property developer named Cartwrights, who bought it from the past occupant.

Cartwrights lodged an application to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council through the planning portals to demolish it, however these plans were overturned after the community opposed.

Those interested in buying shares to help support the campaigners’ goal to make the space a community building can do so here.

A fundraiser has been launched on Gofundme.com has been organised by the S.T.O.P. group to help fund the campaign – if you’d like to donate you can do so here.

S.T.O.P. have an official blog where they share their updates, a Twitter account (@OddiesHigham), and a Facebook page.