ORGANISERS from a major campaign to buy a Stroud beauty spot say they have now raised enough money to buy it. 

The Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society (HVCBS) has now raised enough money to go ahead with the purchase of Thrupp Farm in Stroud. 

The group say this is in thanks to a 'wonderful community response' since a recent appeal was launched to raise an extra £30,000 needed at the start of this month. 

The HVCBS now has £300,000 in the bank, which, combined with loans from the two committed local people who have contributed bridging funding, will fund the £850,000 purchase cost.

Solicitors are currently drawing up the documents and finalising the details needed for the HVCBS and the seller to exchange contracts.

The purchase will be the end of the first phase of the campaign to bring the Heavens Valley into community ownership.

This phase has seen more than £300,000 donated and more than 600 people buying shares so far, with more shareholders signing up every day.

The next phase will be to raise a further £550,000 to repay the loans, as technically, the lenders will own some of the site until repayments are completed - each chunk of money repaid will bring more of the land fully into community ownership.

Karen Thomas, one of the HVCBS team negotiating the purchase said: “Our lenders want this beautiful land to be completely owned by the CBS as they are themselves part of the local community and are not in a position to manage large areas of public land themselves.

"So we will be redoubling our fundraising efforts and we are confident that the community will continue its support.”

She thanked everyone who has donated, bought shares or supported the campaign in other ways

.This includes people who have organised fundraising events; in particular Karen mentioned the Raising the Spirits event on Friday night (November 1), when the update about the financial situation was announced to cheers and stamping of feet from the audience.

She said: “In the new year we will consult with the community for ideas about how to move forward.

“We all love the Heavens and we all have our own vision of what this beloved landscape should look like.

"There are so many amazing possibilities, especially once we, as a community, own the entire 102 acres.”