History was made in Peasedown St John last Tuesday night with the first ever Community Asset Transfer taking place in Bath and North East Somerset. B&NES Council has handed over the management and financial responsibility for the Beacon Hall and Field to Peasedown St John Parish Council, in the first asset transfer of its kind in the authority.

To celebrate, a prestigious 'Peppercorn Ceremony' was held at the community hall as part of the village's Annual Parish Meeting. Recent Government legislation to promote localism enables local authorities to transfer land and buildings through long-term leases to communities. This gives greater power to local communities about how to manage those assets for the benefit of local people.

Cllr Andrew Fraser, the Chairman of Peasedown St John Parish Council, presided over the event. He said: "This special evening was a chance for us to celebrate some of the good things the Parish Council and members of the community have achieved over the last twelve months and to look towards the future."

The meeting was attended by around eighty participants and members of the former Peasedown St John Community Association, established more than twenty years ago to oversee the building and development of Beacon Hall in 1995. Cllr Kathy Thomas, who has been involved as Treasurer to the Association for several years, gave a presentation on the history of the Community Association and the events leading up to the Parish Council adopting the Hall's lease. She commented: "The last twenty-five years have seen many volunteers involved with Beacon Hall. All of them had the goal of ensuring that Beacon Hall was a sustainable community centre that was a benefit to anyone living in the village. I would like to take the opportunity to thank them all for their input and hard work."

Derek Kennedy, the former Association Secretary, along with his wife, Mary, were present to receive a gift of thanks for over twenty years of service to Beacon Hall. Peasedown St John Parish Council will now take control of the community centre and Beacon Field with a new team of Managers, chaired by Cllr Jo Davis.

The Peppercorn Ceremony saw Cllr Andrew Fraser pay a token peppercorn to Cllr Neil Butters, the Vice Chairman of B&NES Council, for the new fifty year lease. Adopted in many parts of the world, 'peppercorn rent' has become a ceremonial occasion where the owners of property or land effectively say the tenants may make use of it for free – with the peppercorn symbolising the agreement between the two parties.

Cllr Paul Crossley, the Leader of B&NES Council, was also present to talk about the significance of the Community Asset Transfer and believed that Peasedown St John would be a positive example of how to do the same in other communities across the district.

After the ceremony, those present at the meeting were able to network with a variety of stalls and exhibits showcasing the work of the village's community groups.

For further details about the event or for any further village information, please visit the website: http://www.peasedownstjohnparishcouncil.gov.uk">www.peasedownstjohnparishcouncil.gov.uk or contact the Parish Clerk, Tanya West, by calling: 01761 433686 or email: clerk@peasedown stjohnparishcouncil.gov.uk