Whilst closed to the public due to the pandemic restrictions, Poole’s Cavern, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Peak District has not been totally quiet. Behind closed doors, work has been carried out to totally upgrade parts of the venue’s café floor, improving the safety and experience for the 80,000 people who visit the fascinating site each year.
Thanks to a grant of over £22,000 from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund* and a further grant from The Bingham Trust, the Buxton Civic Association (who own and manage the Cavern), has been able to make the most of the enforced closure. The grant has been used to strip out the old floor of the kitchen and replace it with a concrete floor, meeting up to date building regulations and giving both café staff and visitors and better experience.
Peter Phillipson, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Buxton Civic Association (BCA) said: “We were extremely sad to have to close Poole’s Cavern in both lockdowns which resulted in us losing the majority of our income to support our charitable objectives including managing our 10 Woodlands in Buxton. However, the grants from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund and The Bingham Trust couldn’t have been better timed. We have been able to do something positive for the future of the Cavern and the café and improve the facility ready to welcome people back when restrictions are relaxed.”
David Wilson, Tarmac’s Tunstead Lime business development manager, added: “It is such a shame to see Peak District gems like Poole’s Cavern closed. However, we are delighted to have been able to offer them a ‘silver lining’ in the form of the grant from our Landfill Communities Fund. I look forward to hearing about the floor being finished, the venue busy and footfall being back to where it should be.”
*The Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund (or Landfill Tax Credit Scheme as it was formerly known) enables landfill operators like Tarmac, to donate part of their annual tax liability to enrolled Environmental Bodies for a variety of approved community and environmental projects. Landfill operators can reclaim 90% of their contribution as a tax credit which means the remaining 10% must be provided either by them or an independent third party. Through the fund Tarmac donates around £1 million each year to community projects throughout the UK. The fund is open to applicants who meet the strict criteria for projects delivering community benefit. For more information please go to www.entrust.org.uk