Waters Upton Community Shop
Beckett Launches Rural One-Stop Shop
A prototype centre to put a wide range of rural services under one roof was opened in 2003 by Margaret Beckett at Waters Upton, Shropshire.
The Waters Upton Parish Centre includes: a post office, village shop, ATM cash machine, ICT access centre, community office and regular Police surgeries.
It brings many public services to the rural community instead of expecting people to travel to their nearest urban centre. It links people, services, facilities and activities.
The project was initiated through a unique partnership between Waters Upton Parish Council and Telford and Wrekin Council. It was suported by the Countryside Agency to develop the centre as its first "National Demonstration Project". The building is owned by the local community, through the parish council.
Chairman of the Countryside Agency Sir Ewen Cameron said:
"The Countryside Agency has for some time been researching and testing the opportunities for bringing those who provide services for rural communities together, so that they can enjoy the benefits of joint working. These benefits, for example sharing overheads, make providing a wider range of services more viable for rural communities."
"Through the Countryside Agency''s programme of National Demonstration Projects we supported he development of this excellend centre in Waters Upton, so are delighted to see it opening its doors for residents to use. I hope that by capturing what we, this extremely dedicated and hardworking community and all the partners involved have learned and telling others about these lessons we will see far more projects like this develop."