Village buys up its own store

9:33am Thursday 17th January 2008

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FACED with the possible loss of their shop, villagers in Coombe Bissett took matters into their own hands.

They secretly put up the money to buy the store, found a tenant to run it, and on Saturday it opened under new management.

Charles May, who already runs Abbey Stores in Salt Lane, Salisbury, hopes to develop his new business along similar lines, stocking a wider range of high-quality foods, locally sourced where possible, and fine wines along with everyday basics.

"I shall be asking the villagers what they want to buy, and, if possible, I shall be supplying it," he said.

Mr May plans to continue the delivery service throughout the Chalke Valley, and hopes eventually to increase opening hours. A prime mover behind the takeover was businessman Simon Scutt, who lives in Homington Road, Coombe Bissett, and runs On Foot Holidays in Salisbury.

He said: "The previous owner wanted to retire, and we were concerned the village would be left without a shop at all. So we got together an informal consortium of villagers to put up the money and bought the freehold.

"It took about seven months to sort it all out. It was complicated having so many people involved!

"We didn't have the expertise to run it ourselves, and we were attracted by what Charles May has achieved at Abbey Stores. It's well-stocked, and a bit out of the ordinary."

Mr Scutt said about 40 villagers had put up money so far, and they hoped to offer others the chance to share in the investment.

"It will give the village a sense of ownership of the shop," he explained, "and people will be more likely to patronise it."

The Post Office in the shop is already threatened with closure as part of the current wider review of services, and the parish council are trying to save it. Even if they fail, however, it is envisaged an "outreach" service fulfilling many of the current Post Office functions would stay.

Just as important for the village is the shop's continuing role as a focus for activities such as the sale of pantomime tickets for the Drama Club and distribution of Garden Club Show schedules.

Meanwhile the day-to-day running of the Abbey Stores will be in the hands of his mother, Penny, and staff.