A dynamic north Lakes community has succeeded in raising enough funds to save its village shop from closure.
Philippa Groves, chair of the Hesket Newmarket Community Shop management team, opened a public meeting on Tuesday evening by announcing: “We did it!” to a rousing round of applause from the audience.
With a large take-up of community shares, fundraising and by negotiating a small top-up loan, sufficient funds have been gathered to start the conveyancing process to be able to get behind the counter of their community shop within the next few months.
The village is already home to two community owned businesses – the Hesket Newmarket Brewery and The Old Crown pub.
Ms Groves said: “We are really excited about the future and the shop will now go from strength to strength, the community has been behind us all the way and that has spurred us on to achieve this great result.”
Vice-chair Simon Hewitt outlined some plans for the future and told those present that they are still recruiting volunteers for all aspects of work in the shop and for the proposed reopening of the tearoom. A volunteers’ drop-in meeting is planned for 4th June between 6pm and 9pm at Millhouse village hall and the team would like to hear from anyone who is interested in helping in the shop or tearoom.
Alternatively, name and contact details can be left at the shop or by registering at hesketnewmarket-
communityshop.co.uk/
The full management team were present at the meeting to share the good news and they have all accepted that “the hard work starts now”.
Ms Groves and Mr Hewitt both reiterated that the fundraising will not stop as they are planning on repaying the loan which is from a private investor as soon as possible and they have further plans to utilise more of the building.
The first annual meeting of Hesket Newmarket Community Shop will be on Saturday, 14th June at Caldbeck Parish Hall and all are welcome to attend, but only shareholders will be eligible to vote.
The annual meeting will be followed by a Big Lunch event.
The campaign was launched in April last year after long-term owner Andy Bothamley announced plans to retire.
