Headley with Ashford Hill Community Shop
In addition to the usual groceries, the shop offers a selection of Fairtrade goods, sandwiches, a dry-cleaning service and a parcel drop off service.
Post Office
The Post Office closes for lunch between 1pm and 2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It is closed all day on Sundays.
Background
In just four months the local shop and post office in Headley, near Newbury, has been transferred from private ownership to a community shop. At a public meeting in early March there was strong support for such a venture, and an action group was formed to carry the project forward. The shop closed for the weekend of June 27th-28th for redecoration and re arrangement, and on Monday June 29th the Community Shop and Post Office opened for business – a whirlwind four months!
- The shop is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts.
- 130 £10 shares have been sold and more than £10000 raised locally in donations and interest free loans.
- A grant of £15000 from SEEDA through Hampshire County Council has been awarded.
- A full time sub post mistress/ shop manager has been appointed, together with two part time employees. The work in the shop is supplemented by a small but willing band of volunteers, and we hope their number will increase as the word spreads. .
- A questionnaire was sent to all residents in the community, asking for their views. As a result the shop is already stocking more local produce, and hopes to increase its range soon.
The members of the committee have worked very hard to get the project up and running, and are very excited about the possibilities for future development. So far so good!