Goodworth Clatford village store goes for gold

Monday, 03 September 2012

A village shop run mainly by volunteers in Goodworth Clatford near Andover, has received an award of its own - a grant of over £5,000 from a Hampshire County Council initiative aimed at giving essential rural facilities a new lease of life.

Village Shop Association

In 2009 the Goodworth Clatford Village Shop Association applied for £9,335 from the Village Community Grant Scheme to attract more customers, make better use of the available space, and purchase new energy efficient freezers. The committee then applied to the Village Shops Grants Scheme for a second grant to further improve the internal layout of the shop and extend the main counter, as well as providing additional wall shelving to display a wider range of local produce. This grant will also cover the cost of a new computer and software to run the shop more effectively. .

'Village shops at the heart of local communities'

Since its introduction in 2008, the Village Shops Grants scheme has seen village shops across the county improved and revitalised. Councillor Ray Ellis, Executive Member for Economic Development and Rural Affairs said:

"Making village shops more sustainable and viable in the long term makes good sense as they are often at the heart of their local communities, acting as meeting places and social hubs as well as providing vital goods and services.

"Goodworth Clatford Village Store is a long established community- run village shop. The shop has strong support from residents and the local parish council and is run by a team of part-time staff and volunteers working under the direction of a manager . Small villages rely on having a well stocked shop in their community, particularly for young families, those with no transport and elderly people. The grant of £5,014 will help to widen the range of local produce on offer, boost trade and encourage more people to visit the shop. Village shops are part of the fabric of rural life, so keeping them vibrant and thriving is a high priority when so many other rural facilities are being lost."

'Villagers grateful'

The former Chairman of the Clatford Village Store Martin Jourdan said:

"All of the villagers in Goodworth Clatford and Upper Clatford, some 900 homes, are immensely grateful to Hampshire County Council for their support without which the shop would not be able to offer the range of products currently available. It is this range that has ensured the shop has flourished in these difficult times. The 'Big Society' in this part of Hampshire is alive and in very good heart."

• Details about Hampshire County Council grants

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