I'm Rachel Wilson, a timber and computer recycling entrepreneur with (just) over 20 years of experience in the recycling business, both as a Director of a successful Not-For-Profit Company, Ltd. by Guarantee, and as a Sole Trader in more recent years. I'm easy to find, I've won more than one award for regeneration in East Manchester, the Company was 4969855; Timber Recycling in Manchester Ltd.
I've learned the hard way that if you want something done properly, and maybe even to enjoy it afterwards, and even have other people enjoy it, you need to do it yourself. Both of my Companies failed not for practical or financial reasons, but for personal ones, weaknesses on the board allowing subversives. There is no team, this project is just me, and you, and the local residents. If you donate, it's a donation, and if you pay for a reward, and my threshold to start work is met, you will get what you paid for, and if things go well, you will get more (if you want it).
Hough Hall, on Hough Hall Road, has been rotting for decades. It's been involved in local crime, squatting, cannabis growing, and in 2020 a severe storm took out the chimney end on the South side and the extension (built later) on the North side. This was followed by water ingress and the inevitable collapse of part of the roof.
I am uniquely positioned to make this right, and take well-deserved possession of this important historical property. I have established absentee landlord status, they may even be dead, and changed the ownership with both the Council and Google Maps, and the clock is ticking on my Law of Return (7 years and the Land Registry with automatically grant me the deeds.)
The reconstruction can mostly be done using the materials still on site, and fresh mortar, there are many bricks on site too, period correct, so it is merely a matter of my skill, and following the photos and descriptions from the 1970's. Replacement timber and materials to furnish the inside can be resourced cheaply or for free because I'm uniquely positioned to start my recycling company again - all alone this time, and Hough Hall will be product of that process, and an enabler - using the land, and getting my vehicle back on the road to do it all!
The results would be outstanding; I could re-establish my recycling businesses using the plentiful land and outbuildings. Clearing the rubbish and hazards from the site and empty street around it would cost me nothing and improve the whole area instantly.
As mentioned in the title, I would provide, as part of the project, an all-singing, all dancing, community centre, with reasonable rates and staffed mostly by me for next to nothing, as I can run my other recycling projects all from here. There would be coffee and snacks availlable, at rates appropriate for Moston, I want a community cafe, not to gentrify the place, instant coffee will be capped at a £1 for 2 years from opening, let's see where hyperinflation goes after that...!
I have in mind to use the largest room for the community centre, but watch this space as socially, several smaller rooms may make more sense!
I have visions of gigs, cinema nights, and perhaps discos or other light socials.
Since the building has had a reputation for bad behaviour and crime, and the residents have made their feelings clear on the matter, alcohol will not and never will be served. There may be a service hatch, but I want to see hot pot coming out of it, for 50p a throw to the elderly, this will not be a pub.
So what do I want the money for?
My otherwise wonderful car needs a clutch, and I need some basic tools and supplies to start the recycling again. It's all about getting me back on the road so I can do this, I live in Whalley Range and Hough Hall isn't ready to move into, also, my timbers are clogging up my bedrooms at this end, and I can't well walk them, and the other materials which companies will beg me to take from them, to Hough Hall from Whalley Range, can I?