TOPIC:

Hi Yes
I certainly think that as this was a group of people who were interested to buy a pub together for a cluster of reasons, there would probably be a (probably smaller) group among them who would be interested in buying land.
I'm not actually proposing that the pub co-op buys land (though that could be nice and could possibly be a future direction if enough of the members felt good about it) but I'm certainly agreeing that this forum could be a place to talk about it (except that too few people use it for that ;-/ - I can talk to Garry about other options at some point). I also think it would not be a mis-use of the member network to call a meeting on the topic, tho' I do think as well that it might need a steering group to set some tasks first so that the discussion has some possible courses of action afterwards. That too is a discussion I'd like to join tho' am feeling very busy at the moment. There have been nice proposals gone past my eyes for buying estates in various places and I don't know what became of them. There is something to be learned from the community of interest and easily defined goals that the Bell CoOp project had.
In the big picture I think buying land - especially for some people (and that includes people like me who can't afford a house and live rented) - can be a big lesson just like buying a thriving business with employees has been. And as you say, Ash, it could have big big implications in a re-structured economy, which is also a big one but one that many sensible people (and not just XR) needs looking at seriously. And one for which there is a lot of expertise around these parts (trouble is the land is expensive).
But what, as the question was, does anyone else think about it?

Hi,
Great to hear this latest comment re land use. You make a good point about the issue of community ownership not only being of interest to XR.
In fact the agenda of XR remains largely concerned with raising the alarm about the climate emergency rather than ground roots practical change.

I have been finding lately that in the Bath area more and more people are beginning to discuss the need for a change in land use within the context of a need for wider structural change, and as was discussed at the recent conference in Bristol; Zero West, Bath and North East Somerset as well as Wiltshire are well placed to be making these sorts of land use changes given the amount of agricultural land here. Ideas that are being discussed are tree planting, rewilding, growing organic vegetables and fruit for the local community, this could potentially be a large portion of the community if enough land could be acquired. I agree, lands expensive, so a lot of people would need to be willing to buy into the idea but you have to start somewhere. If we knew what we were doing it could also include maintaining a more limited free range large animal livestock base, grazing on mixed crop rotational feed. All the above can be done at the same time on an area of land. Isabella Tree's book titled Wilding is very worth while reading about how this can be done. Also, the film 2040 demonstrates it well. Brilliant film!

Bath co operative alliance will shortly be holding a meeting about this very idea of community owned land, date pending. I was in recent talks with someone from Bath and West community energy and between us we worked out that there must be at least ten different groups all attempting to address the same things regarding land. Especially when you also include the Avon Wildlife Trust, The woodland Trust, Greenpeace and the like, and lots of these groups are feeling its time we all worked together

There appears to be an urgent need for a Climate Emergency centre in Bath where the many different groups can come together and pull their resources and expertise, and the Bell, as a community owned Pub could be key especially if we are hoping to branch out for the continuing benefit of the local community. It is a shame we were not able to secure the building next door.

Would it be helpful if after the co operative alliance meeting I was to outline the ideas put forward to Bell members that might be interested in them? perhaps at the next informal members meeting? Not as a special meeting for this purpose, just as one of the topics to be discussed.
When might this be by the way? as I don't seem to get emails telling me when the informal meetings are.

whoops! sorry, I left 3 messages. I wasn't trying to hammer home the point, promise!

Ash wrote:

whoops! sorry, I left 3 messages. I wasn't trying to hammer home the point, promise!

I've removed the duplicate messages

Hi Ash,
Exit lines like "I don't seem to get emails telling me when the informal meetings are" are guaranteed to jolt me out of my Secretarial slumber! Mailchimp assures me that you were sent the notifications of 2019's two members' meetings (12 May and 10 Nov). Bizarrely, though, it also tells me that you didn't open either of them. I say bizarrely because you regularly open everything else that we send you - Mailchimp gives your member's profile its top 5-star rating for engagement!
This topic probably isn't the place to discuss what might have gone wrong with last year's notifications; we shouldn't dilute the topic's main theme. Do you want to contact me off-forum (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07753 138396) so that we can ensure improved communications in 2020?
The Board hasn't yet made any decisions about dates for this year's members' meetings, but on previous form we'll probably have our first meeting sometime in March/April. I hope that we'll be able to sort out the notifications so that we see you there.

I'd like that discussion, and the update from the discussion you refer to, Ash
Anyone can talk about anything at a members' meeting - you don't need permission - tho' I can imagine things playing out that a short discussion would lead to a call for another meeting on that, where the problem would then be to get people to that. But do-able.
FWIW i was at the Dry Arch Growers' event on Saturday, as were other Bell members, & in the general chit-chat around the place afterwards
[1] conversation between prominent greenie/community types about duplication of efforts & campaigns, need to watch that.
[2] discussion about community land, it's obviously in the air. Note also that on the walk out there from edge of town (Sydney Gardens) along the canal, I pass 1 set of allotments and 3 or 4 active smallholdings on formerly neglected land. There's obvious buoyancy in this as an idea and a part of the food economy BUT underlines too that we need to be very careful not to undermine fragile community/small/emerging businesses who are doing that sort of thing already.
While I'm here, check this too: undercliffurbanfarm.co.uk/csa-credit/ . I buy from Nat (as do other Bell people) 'cos he's good and very local to me. Not suggesting Bell invests (necessarily) but pointing out things that are happening.
Some other Bell members I can think of have also invested in land with community ideas. But that's all for the discussion...