Purbrook & Widley Area Residents’ Association (PAWARA) was formed in 2005 to give residents a voice on local issues and a channel of communication with Local Authorities. However, the future of the Association is now in doubt and a new committee is needed if it is to continue.
We have kept residents informed with newsletters and organised regular public meetings to let residents know what is happening in the area, including updates from councillors, council officers and local police officers. We have invited developers to explain their proposals and allow discussion of concerns. We have arranged a variety of interesting speakers including several illustrated talks on local history which have always been well attended.
We have been able to receive grants to resurface paths at Penjar Pond and Sandy Brow. We supported vulnerable residents during the Covid 19 pandemic by collecting and delivering prescriptions and arranging delivery of meals. We have organised litter picks and collected over 1,200 sacks of litter plus many other larger discarded items, including a kitchen sink. We have installed a defibrillator at Shilling Place, a new public notice board in Purbrook and held monthly quizzes at The Woodman.
We have an active Environment Group which carries out practical nature conservation work in the Purbrook and Widley area. The first project in 2005 was clearing rubbish from the disused playground at Privett Road/Sandy Brow, planting the site with bulbs and seeding with wild flowers. That was followed by removing a large amount of rubbish from and completely restoring Penjar Pond. Since then we have planted and maintained trees, hedges and a community orchard, cleared footpaths, removed invasive laurel and Spanish bluebells from Sandy Dell and planted 3,000 native bluebell bulbs, among other things.
We need a new committee and other volunteers for this work to continue and to take on new projects. If you live in the Purbrook or Widley area, please attend the AGM on Thursday 27th November to show your support and let us know what you want from PAWARA. Please also consider how you can help. Deverell Hall, London Road, Purbrook. 7:00pm for a 7:15pm start. You can contact us at: info@pawara.co.uk