A new board of directors is appointed to help lead the Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society (HVCBS), as chosen by its stakeholders at the first-ever AGM in September 2025.
Six existing directors were successfully re-elected during the meeting held at the Sub Rooms in Stroud, including the HVCBS's volunteer manager, Fiona Ellis; Sue Fenton and Karen Thomas, two key members of the initial Heavens Valley Action Group; chair of trustees for the Stroud Valleys Project, Stella Parkes; Lucas Schoemaker, district councillor for Stroud Trinity; and Brimscombe and Thrupp Parish Council representative, Martin Whiteside.
Chaired by councillor Chloe Turner, leader of Stroud District Council, the meeting saw 160 shareholders being shown the HVCBS's financial figures and given the chance to ask questions about the management of the land which was purchased via grant and put back into community control in November 2024.
While the directors had the opportunity to outline happenings on the 102-acre Thrupp Farm in Stroud, which includes Heavens Valley.
Newly elected members include Charlotte Chivers, Adrian Oldman, Tom Pedder, Gill Tavner, Gill Thomas and Matt Whitney, completing a board made up of land policy knowledge, financial skills and a new youth representative.
James Bentley, outgoing director and former secretary of the CBS, said: 'This is a really strong new board that brings a host of skills, experience and personal attributes to the role. They will help to steer the CBS into its next phase as public consultation starts over the future uses of the land.
'Almost exactly half of our membership voted in the online director election, which shows tremendous engagement and just how much people care about the future of the Heavens Valley.'
The HVBS managed to raise £850,000 through donations, loans and fundraising, to buy the land and bring it back into the hands of the community, but the AGM saw a proposal put forward with the aim to provide protection of public access rights through legal channels – rather than through landowner permission as is the current method – which was rejected.
This topic will remain on the agenda for discussion in an upcoming public consultation.
Though a date for the public consultation is still to be confirmed, the Heavens Valley CBS is determined and prepared to have a say in the access rights before they are enshrined in law.
