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Watten shop group ‘absolutely delighted’ with community share response





Some of the Watten Shop Group Ltd members outside the village shop last month. Picture: Alix Sutherland
Some of the Watten Shop Group Ltd members outside the village shop last month. Picture: Alix Sutherland

The group of volunteers who are seeking to take Watten’s village shop into community ownership say they are “absolutely delighted” with the response to their share offer.

The group is trying to generate a total of £15,000 from community shares to show funding bodies that there is local support for the venture. Shares cost £5 each and more than £9000 has now been raised.

Watten Shop Group Ltd took on the lease of Woodside Village Store in February this year and the intention is that it will be “run by the community for the benefit of the community”.

It is hoped that, with grant aid, around £235,000 can be raised to buy and refurbish the shop and post office.

The group is holding its first annual general meeting in the Brown Trout Hotel in the village tonight (Thursday, September 26) at 7.30pm.

A competition for children to design a logo was won by 11-year-old Owen Wylie.

Committee member Zoë McIntosh said: “The shop continues to grow and we are responding to customers’ requests to stock different items and source products from local suppliers, including The Home Bakery in Wick and Caithness Summer Fruits.

“Our shelves are full and the shop is busy, which is fantastic to see.

“It is also becoming a key hub in the village. It is a place to drop off hand-made poppies ahead of the planned remembrance display, and a food bank donation collection point, as well as collecting raffle prize donations for various events and local community groups.

“The children’s logo design competition was a great success with lots of creative and colourful entries. The winner was Owen Wylie, whose eye-catching design included bold, colourful lettering and a strong image of a trout jumping out of the loch, representing Watten.

“Owen wins £25, a hoodie with his winning logo on it and a special invite to the unveiling of our new sign in the near future.

“We currently have 130 shareholder members and have raised over £9000 towards our target of £15,000, which we are absolutely delighted with. The share offer remains open and we continue to spread the word and promote share sales.”

Watten Shop Group Ltd took on the lease of Woodside Village Store earlier this year and it is ‘becoming a key hub in the village’. Picture: DGS
Watten Shop Group Ltd took on the lease of Woodside Village Store earlier this year and it is ‘becoming a key hub in the village’. Picture: DGS

Anyone interested in buying shares can email wattenshopchair@gmail.com or collect a prospectus and membership form from the shop itself, or get in touch via the Watten Shop Group Ltd Facebook page.

Committee members had a “fantastic response” from the public at the County Show in Thurso in July and they hosted a share launch event in Watten village hall in August.

Watten Shop Group Ltd is being supported by Alix Sutherland, community development officer at Caithness Voluntary Group.


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