THE first spade will be put in the ground on Tuesday (November 11) as construction starts on bespoke rooms for an Exmoor Rural Health Hub (ERHH) at the Exmoor Farmers livestock market in Cutcombe, Wheddon Cross.

The charity was established in 2021 has now successfully raised the funds it needs to start work on permanent premises.

The fund-raising was achieved with grants from local private trusts, a Somerset Community Foundation award, donations from local farming-related businesses, and private individuals, which was matched by the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).

The REPF is a Government grant to support businesses and communities across rural areas of the county, specifically ‘funding for hubs to help address rural isolation, rural networking, access to health care, training, and other services tackling some of the issues around social mobility’.

ERHH hosted a sell-out Exmoor Big Breakfast in the Moorland Hall, with 120 breakfasts served which together with an on-line auction of promises raised about £3,000.

Now, ERHH hopes the building, which will have three separate consulting rooms, a disabled toilet, and a reception area, will be ready to open by the end of March next year.

Having more than one consulting room will allow for two or more health practitioners to be on-site on clinic days, making it easier for farmers to receive multiple benefits from a single visit.

ERHH chairman Richard Webber said: “The new building has been funded and will be built by the charity for its exclusive use, but owned by the livestock market who will grant the charity a long lease with a nominal rent.

“The charity is indebted to Exmoor Farmers for supporting its work, our current portable cabin premises is no longer fit for purpose and the new building fulfils the charity’s ambition to expand its services.

“We are so grateful to everybody who has supported this important initiative.”