Newent’s oldest residents celebrate new beginnings with Two Rivers

Published by Anonymous for Two Rivers Housing in Communities and also in Education, Housing

Two of Newent’s oldest residents, with a combined age of 193, yesterday helped community homes organisation Two Rivers to mark the birth of the town’s new “Social Enterprise Centre” at Cleeve Mill Business Park.

Guest of honour Evelyn Adamson celebrated her 93^rd birthday and was joined by local celebrity centenarian Bert Bullock. So it was a double celebration. Both live independent lives in their own homes - provided by Two Rivers.

Mrs Adamson and Mr Bullock, Town Mayor Roger Beard, and children from Glebe Primary School and Newent Community School were all there to view the emerging Two Rivers Social Enterprise Centre.

The Centre will see the three acres site transformed with plans for a 40 apartment extra care development catering for the older generation, eight start up business units, and a new office to accommodate Two Rivers not-for-profit homes operation.

Guest of honour Mrs Adamson said it was a great way to celebrate her birthday.

“I was just going to have a quite lunch with my niece. It was a wonderful birthday surprise thanks to Two Rivers. ” 

Two Rivers Chief Executive Garry King said the new development was all about investing in the local community and providing a much needed boost to the local economy.

“It’s brilliant that Mrs Adamson and Mr Bullock, the Mayor and the children could join us to mark the start of this exciting project. They are all living proof of Newent’s energy and dynamism. It is a great place to live and work.

“The Extra Care Centre will provide much needed homes for the growing older population. Unfortunately not everyone is as lively and independent as Bert and Evelyn.

“And at the other end of the scale we have plans to develop start up units for local entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on social enterprise – building businesses that put something back into the local community,” he said. 

Two Rivers is a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing affordable homes for the local community. It spends £16million a year in the local economy providing affordable homes for over 3,800 local families.

“Our new office is will be built to the highest environmental standards, reducing energy costs for the future. We are investing for the future. Building the new office will work out cheaper than renting in the years ahead. The more we can save on running our operation, the more resources we can pump back into the community,” Garry said.

Town Mayor Roger Beard said the Two Rivers Enterprise Centre would bring new opportunities for the town.

“It’s great to have such a vote of confidence in the town from Two Rivers. The organisation’s community focus and its commitment to supporting the local economy and the environment is just what the town needs,” he said.

Gloucester based Britannia Construction is delivering the first phase of the development, building the new office for Two Rivers.

Britannia Managing Director Paul Halfpenny said it was a very exciting project to be involved in.

“Two Rivers have specified the very highest energy saving standards to ensure maximum efficiency in delivering their operation. The new office will be a model of sustainable building. It’s great to work to such exacting standards. Two Rivers is really future focused and puts their community first.

“Britannia is a local developer with a strong track record of putting something back into the community. We are doing everything we can to deliver this project with the minimum of impact, and are committed members of the Considerate Constructors national scheme,” he said.