Major investment in Barton Stacey Village Store thanks to £25,000 grant from the Council
Barton Stacey Stores has received a £25,000 grant from Test Valley Borough Council through the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), supporting a major building project that has transformed the popular village shop and Post Office.
The store, which had been left in a poor state following a previous building job, required extensive work to make it safe, secure, and welcoming for the local community. Over the past four months, the grant has helped fund vital improvements to the building, including structural repairs and the installation of new security measures such as CCTV.
The Store is owned and run by Kevin and Lisa May, who moved to Test Valley from Kent six years ago. They also operate a mobile Post Office van, delivering essential postal services to surrounding villages that no longer have a Post Office of their own. They are delighted with the completed work, which has not only improved the store’s appearance and safety but also safeguarded its future.
Lisa said, “This project has made such a difference, the shop was in real need of attention, and without this support, we might not have been able to keep it going.”
The improvements have also safeguarded the jobs of the seven staff members who work at the store, reinforcing its role as a local employer and community hub.
Harewood ward Councillor David Drew said, "This project is a great example of how the Rural England Prosperity Fund can help to protect a vital service for a village, supporting local jobs, and ensuring that residents continue to benefit from a safe and welcoming community shop and Post Office."
The Barton Stacey Stores project is a great example of how targeted investment can strengthen rural communities, preserve essential services, and support local enterprise.
The Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that provides capital funding for rural business and rural communities. TVBC received just over half a million pounds which has been distributed between businesses and community organisations across the rural areas of our borough to help develop our rural economy.
