All I want for Christmas is a dry Scout hut: Leighton Buzzard builders work to make wish come true

Alex Mayer MP joined local young Scouts, volunteers and tradespeople making a final festive push to fully seal and secure the building before winter weather hits.

Despite the scale of the challenge, Ms Mayer heard how the build team has rallied. She met the SD Carpentry team working seven days a week to keep the rebuild moving, and heard how subcontractors are donating their labour and local suppliers have cut prices to support the project.

Their aim is to ensure the roof is back on, windows and doors installed, and the shell weather-secure by 25 December.

The rebuild could only begin in October after planning setbacks pushed the original summer start date into autumn. New conditions imposed late in the process also added £12,000 to the bill, opening up a funding gap and threatening to slow the final stages.

The Scout group launched a Crowdfunder page to bridge the shortfall and is appealing to local residents, businesses and former Scouting families for help. An “appreciation board” in the finished Scout hut will honour all supporters.

From January 2026 the work will move indoors, with electrics, plasterboard, bathrooms and painting completed in time for the Scouts’ planned April return.

On her latest return to the build Alex Mayer MP who has supported the group by writing to the Council to resolve planning issues said: “I'm really proud of how so many local people are rallying round. It feels a bit like Challenge Anneka. Steve and his team are working flat out to get the hut flood-proof by Christmas. The scouts are a go-getting local group who have shown real resilience after last year’s awful flooding. I know every donation will make a real difference."

Leighton Buzzard Scouts Group Chair Paul Casey said: "We have been deeply encouraged by the strong backing of our local community, businesses, and ward councillors as we move toward the completion of this project. Their readiness to support us has been invaluable. We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to our MP, Alex Mayer, for her consistent support at every stage"

The builders’ generosity has already saved tens of thousands of pounds through reduced costs, and the new hut will include solar panels, a battery system and a live energy-monitoring display to teach Scouts about renewables.

Last year’s devastating floods, compounded by record rainfall in September 2024, left four inches of water inside the old hut and turned a straightforward refurbishment into a £275,000 full rebuild.

To donate to the appeal, please visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-build-of-our-new-scouts-hut