Watten volunteers ‘so passionate about saving village shop’
The group of volunteers who are seeking to take a Caithness village shop into community ownership say they are passionate about making it a success.
Watten Shop Group Ltd took on the lease of Woodside Village Store six months ago and the intention is that it will be “run by the community for the benefit of the community”.
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 by last week £6500 worth of shares had been sold.
It is hoped that, with grant aid, around £235,000 can be raised to buy and refurbish the shop and post office.
The group has already employed additional staff, increased the stock and extended the opening hours.
Committee member Sue Mangham said she was confident the community share offer would achieve its target.
Mrs Mangham explained that she grew up in a village in Hertfordshire that suffered from the loss of its shop and other facilities. While the circumstances in south-eastern England differ from those in Caithness, Mrs Mangham is keenly aware that a shop can be a vital part of the fabric of a rural community.
“In the village where I grew up we lost our shop, then we lost our school, we lost our pub, we lost our farms and then we lost everything,” she said. “It’s now just commuter belt.
“Both farms were converted into luxury houses. The village now is dead. The only time anybody ever goes back to that village who was born there is for a funeral, and that is a tragedy.
“It wouldn’t happen in Watten.”
Committee members had a “fantastic response” from the public at the County Show in Thurso and they hosted a share launch event in Watten village hall at the beginning of this month.
“Everyone on the committee is so passionate about saving the shop,” Mrs Mangham said.
“The village has supported us, and people in the county have supported us. We were surprised about the number of shares we actually sold at the County Show from people who weren’t from Watten.
“It was good that people just bought a £5 share. I’m an optimist and I think we’ll make our target.”
Watten Shop Group Ltd is being supported by Alix Sutherland, community development officer at Caithness Voluntary Group.
She said: “Assisting the committee to take over the Watten shop has been a really interesting experience for me. It is by far the biggest project I have ever been involved in but it has been great to see the passion the committee members have to see the project succeed – it is infectious!
“Despite some obstacles, the community support from those in Watten and beyond has been very encouraging and people seem delighted that the shop has been saved.
“I’m proud to have played a part in preserving this village asset for the future.”
A survey last year indicated strong support for a community shop, according to the group’s share offer document.
The document also states: “Guided by research and feedback our aim will be to provide a high-quality village shop that is attractive and appealing to shop in.
“As a general store we will stock a good variety of everyday items at fair prices to cater for all needs. In addition, we will supply good-quality local produce and support local producers wherever possible.”
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.
A competition for children to design a logo will continue until the end of August.