Oake Parish is a rural community approximately six miles west of Taunton in Somerset and together with the adjacent hamlets of Heathfield, Hillcommon and Hillfarrance has a population of approximately 750.

Oake Village Hall Car Park (TA4 1JA) is situated in the grounds of the Village Hall below the hall and shop building. Oake Parish Council is the custodian trustee of the land and building. Oake Village Hall opened in September 2003. The car park has served the parish and wider community well over the years but the transfer of Oake Community Shop & Post Office in August 2020 considerably increased traffic. The car park now needs a permanent surface to prevent more structural damage and claims for damage to vehicles caused by potholes which develop in wet weather.

During extended periods of dry weather, dust is created and is a problem for our immediate neighbors. It can also become unpleasantly muddy in some areas, resulting in dirt trailed into the Oake Community Shop & Post Office and Hall, and unhappy users with soiled shoes.

When it rains, a considerable volume of water runs down the drive, creating ruts/gulley's in the car park, settling, and creating a very muddy area at the lower boundary as shown in the attached photos.

The management committees of Oake Village Hall, Oake Community Shop & Post Office have been working together to provide a long-term solution to the problem.

We have sought advice, obtained quotations from local contractors which has resulted in a hybrid solution that combines, tarmac, gravel grids and soakaways. This will also give clear lines for parking.

A massive thank you goes out to all parties that have fund raised along with generous donations. This has resulted in a shortfall of £10,000 towards the total cost of £50,000, before we are able to instruct the contractors.

All avenues for additional funding have been explored with no success. It has therefore been agreed that the only way forwards to be able to engage a local contractor who can start in September is to crowd fund to fill the shortfall.

We are therefore asking for donations to get us over the line enabling work to commence. A big thankyou on behalf of Oake Village Hall, Oake Community Shop & Post Office Committees for all your donations