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.

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."

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