The Village Shop Project - Purpose

The surveys leading to the instigation of the shop project showed that village residents desire for a shop was triggered by social as well as convenience and environmental factors:

Reduction of car journies to local shopping centres and associated pollution

Ability to be able to purchase local foods and produce not readily available elsewhere

Provision of access to essential supplies to those without personal transport

Provision of regular social and welfare contact for the elderly or persons living alone

Provision of local access to a limited range of post office and other services

Provision of a social focus for the two communities through inclusion of a café

Provision of meeting facilities for small clubs and societies through the cafe

The Shop Committee is quite clear in its understanding that the Community Shop will not attempt to replace or compete with local shops and the supermarkets in the larger local towns; residents will still visit these for their bulk shopping. The Community Shop's rôle will be to supply short term needs and obviate people's current 3 - 4 weekly trips to larger shopping centres for short-term needs as well as providing an informal social environment through both the shop and the café thus improving social cohesion and welfare.