Long Marston (The Poppin Village Store)
"Vital Village" shop saved
Long Marston is a small village with a population of about 280. It is in a pretty and desirable part of Warwickshire some distance from the market towns of Reddich and Stratford-upon-Avon. During 1999 the village’s store and post office was demolished as part of a new development. The developer was required by Stratford District Council to replace the store but there wasn’t much commercial interest - no one is going to make their fortune serving a village of 280 people.
Following a Village Appraisal a steering group was formed to consider the options. The steering group had no confidence that a commercial operator would take over the site so they began to examine the idea of a community shop. The group devised a questionnaire using a piece of computer software recommended by the local authority. The questionnaire was a serious piece of work. It had 70 questions and space for up to 6 people per household to put their answers. Seventy per cent of the village returned their questionnaires. A high return rate helped by the fact that steering group members posted them by hand and went door-to-door to collect them.
As far as the shop idea went, events were to overtake the villagers. Having failed to lease the building as a village shop, the developer began to explore other options. This would probably have ruled out the idea of a village shop forever. Last Chance Saloon leaflets were circulated round the village and another public meeting was held, this time with a specific focus. The steering group had been in touch with us at ViRSA. Our local representative gave a great deal of practical and sensible advice and is also actively involved in a community shop in her own area.
The group wanted to find a constitution for the shop that would enable them to trade properly but wouldn''t give too much power to any one shareholder and ViRSA suggested an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS). An IPS is a membership organisation accountable to its members through a set of rules but is incorporated, meaning that it can trade successfully in its own right.
The management team raised over £10,000 from village investors, which was matched by £17,000 of money from Warwickshire and Worcestershire Vital Villages Partnership (not to be confused with the Countryside Agency Vital Villages programme) for fitting out and against the costs of capital items. Without their help the project would not have gone forward. Long Marston Poppin Shop opened in July 2001 with a staff of 20 volunteers and two ''key persons'' who are also unpaid. They had more help along the way: the Post Office agreed to put a counter in and employs a postmaster for 30 hours open week (he also helps out in the shop as a key person) and a local supplier gave them advice on laying out the shelving. The Post Office believes that the co-operation between themselves and the shop could be a model for other successful Post Office/Community Partnerships.
Article from Talking Shop, Spring 2002