Cash to reopen village shops
NEW community-owned shops could open in rural North Lincolnshire after funding was made available.
The Plunkett Foundation is offering up to £40,000 for villages to set up their own shops.
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West Butterwick Post Office closed last year
It comes after several communities in North Lincolnshire lost their post offices last year and the scheme, known as the Core Village programme, is targeted at places which have lost or face the prospect of losing their shop.
Chairman of the North Lincolnshire branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, Neil Poole, welcomed the funding.
He said: "The village post office, shop and pub are at the centre of many village communities, they are at the heart of village life.
"I welcome the news that funding is now being made available to support existing businesses and encourage new ventures."
Wrawby Parish Council chairman Ian Smith added: "A village shop could be nothing but an advantage to the community.
"Whether it would get a favourable reaction from people in the village, I don't know, but if it was set up, it would be an advantage."
For the full story, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.
2 Comments
by pauline, North Lincs
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 8:22PM
“I completely agree with you. I wonder how many of the villagers which have their 'community' shop supported the original shop. I suggest that if the village shop was well supported, it would not have closed in the first place. Rural villages will just become an extension of the High Streets, i.e. Charity Shops.”
by G.Etreal, Down South
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 11:45AM
“A lot of village dwellers talk about needing their local shop.
However, most village shops have closed down because these very residents only buy the odd forgotton item or bottle of milk from their local shop - prefering to spend their £100's a month in superstores, miles away.
Local shops cannot compete on price, opening hours or variety - so are ultimately doomed to fail.”