Village shop receives financial boost
A rural Village Shop Association can replace some of its aging equipment and purchase new newspaper stands thanks to a £1,000 grant from Test Valley Borough Council.
Ward member for Over Wallop, Councillor Tony Hope, presented Kevin Willey, Chairman of the Wallop Village Shop Association, with the grant from the authority’s Councillor Community Grant scheme on Friday, 21 July. The grant will be used to replace the shop’s chiller and freezer facilities, meaning the shop can store more fresh food that would otherwise have to be thrown away.
Councillor Tony Hope said: “I am delighted to be able to support the Wallop shop. The shop and Post Office are a great benefit to local residents, especially those who may be elderly or isolated and are unable to travel to do their shopping. These new facilities will help to ensure the sustainability of the store and to reduce the levels of food waste - which is an important consideration for many people.”
Mr Willey added: “We would like to thank Councillor Hope for his support with this grant. The village shop is run by residents for the benefit of the local community on a ‘not for profit’ basis. This will allow us to continue to offer high quality produce to local residents. We will also be able to purchase some additional newspaper stands to go outside the shop which will increase our visibility and encourage people to shop with us.”
The Test Valley Borough Council Councillor Community Grant scheme helps to fund community-led initiatives. Local councillors allocate funds to projects that they identify as meeting a need in the community based on feedback and ideas from residents.