Community shop project
Ashton Hayes and Mouldsworth (the Community) are two rural villages in Cheshire with a population of around 1200 living in 500 households. Both Villages are currently served by one village store that offers general convenience items and a Post Office. However due to a change in circumstance, the current proprietor is no longer able to continue to operate the general store.
As the Villages are in a rural location, the next available stores are some miles away and transport links are poor. A Steering Committee was formed to investigate the possibility of establishing a community run shop within the village.
There is strong public support for such a scheme that would run as an Industrial and Provident Society, returning any profit generated to the Community.
The aim of the project is,
‘To provide a shop run by the community that meets the needs of the community and provides a consistent offering and reliable service at a fair price’
It is estimated that a minimum of £30,000 will be required to establish the community shop which will be raised by issuing shares, loans and grant applications.
As keeping costs to a minimum is key to the success of the project, the store will be partly staffed by volunteers.
View the September 2010 Update from Lisa Allman.
To view the full business/marketing plan 2009, click here or see a plan in the Post Office.
To buy shares in the shop click here for application form and details.
For more information contact the Chair, Lisa Allman, ljallman@btinternet.com