VILLAGE PLANS TO BUILD OWN SHOP
May 21, 2009 9:42 AM
Bratton Fleming is planning to build its own shop. North Devon MP Nick Harvey was impressed by what he recently heard: 'This is an innovative solution to the village shop problem, combining the best of community effort with genuine commercial enterprise - and if it can be made to work it is something other areas will watch with interest,' he said.
Unlike many community shops, which are run by volunteers, the new store would be owned by the village in perpetuity, but leased to current Bratton Fleming Stores proprietor Steve Cotten. The existing store is hugely popular and as the only village shop, forms a massive focal and information point for the community.
'We would have a bigger shop, hopefully with the part time Post Office moving into it too, plus a wider range of local products,' explained Mr Cotten.
'We already employ two full time and five part time staff. The shop provides money for the community and is already a viable business - it would be made even more viable if the village owned the premises, ensuring it always remained as a shop.'
It is hoped to win grant funding to move the current Bratton Fleming Stores to a purpose-built premises on land at the Millennium Green. The project is being overseen by a committee of parish councillors, Millennium Green trustees and members of the public.
Elements of this report were first published by North Devon Gazette today.
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