Click for full size picture 
 		 It is now 19 months since the start of the village shop project.

Have you been following the improvements and success of your community shop?
  • Planning Consent granted for the new shop building.
  • Grant from Community Action for Hampshire awarded to allow new shop fittings in the existing shop.
  • Happy faces in the shop.
  • Turnover increased substantially.
  • New Horizon computer system in Post Office.
  • A wide range of convenience foods.
  • Personal banking with Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Co-op and Cahoot.
  • Papers delivered to your door or to the shop.
  • Fresh baked rolls daily.
  • Custard tarts on Tuesdays and Pastries on Thursdays.
  • Flowers and plants delivered every Tuesday.
  • Local eggs and honey, plus a small selection of fresh local produce.
  • Dry cleaning and photo processing twice a week.
Why a new shop and post office?

The existing building was sold as a residential property in November 1998 to Mrs.Wheen. It has only been due to her generosity and that of her family (since her death at Easter this year) that we have been able to continue trading. This has been in a restricted shop area and with reduced hours, but the village have continued to support the project.

Purchasing the site

Through a mixture of memberships, donations, loans and grants, £73,000 was raised allowing the Association to purchase the land by Church Path. It is clear that further finances have to be raised to build the new shop and Post Office. A lottery grant application was submitted in April 2000, with a decision expected in November. If this is not successful we will need to raise further funds and your financial support will be needed if this project is to succeed.

Planning a shop for the future

A lot of research has gone into various aspects of our new shop. Other Village Shop Associations in Southern England were contacted, and advice sought, particularly from those who had been involved with restoring old buildings and new builds. The Village Retail Services Association (ViRSA), Countryside Agency, Conservation, Environmental Health, Highways and Planning departments of TVI3C all contributed to our investigations. In order to fund the building of the village shop it was necessary to seek and obtain planning consent for the erection and sale of a dwelling on the plot behind the proposed shop.

 
On 18th May 2000 planning permission was granted by Test Valley Borough Council for the demolition of the cob barn and the erection of the shop with the flat and the dwelling to the rear. It was reported to be one of the most thoroughly researched projects they have seen for some time.


The Way Ahead

To help us through the next stage we have taken advantage of a grant awarded by the Community Action for Hampshire to improve the current trading situation. Shop fittings, a freezer, chiller and till have been installed and sales have increased five-fold. Post Office Counters have also installed the new Horizon computer system in the shop which should guarantee the future of our Post Office status. As we approach the end of August, the committee is in contact with a number of estate agents with a view to marketing the rear plot of the site. An architect has been appointed. A draft building schedule has been prepared, with a view to starting to build the shop in November this year.

You can help too !!

Volunteers are still needed to serve in the shop, How about helping one Saturday morning per month? Would you be interested? THE MORE ASSISTANCE WE HAVE THE MORE HOURS WE CAN OPEN!
   (Contact Jackie Stanton on 710230 or E-mail her by clicking HERE)
   Please consider, this is a community project run for the community, by the community. You can help too!


 
Your new shop will be considerably bigger than the current one. The extended selling area should be able to cater for all your requests.
  • Bakery
  • Wines and spirits
  • Coffee Area
  • Frozen Foods
  • Fresh local produce
  • General groceries
  • Confectionery
  • Papers and magazines
  • Cards and stationary
  • Dry cleaning/shoe repairs
  • And many others to consider and investigate


 
Thank you to:
  • All the people who have come forward to volunteer to work in the shop.
  • Those of you who helped in the shop fitting.
  • Those of you who have supplied printing services.
  • Those who have given extra donations or converted debentures into donations.
  • Russell Removals for their generous assistance.
  • Jane and Tony Storer for their continued support.
  • The family of Mrs. Wheen for being patient and understanding.

If you are not already a member of the Association, please support us by joining now !

To become a member of the Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association, download File in Microsoft WORD97 format (Click floppy icon) the application form, complete and return, remembering to sign it and enclose your cheque for £10 (or £20 for joint membership, payable to 'The Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association Ltd.') together with any other donations. You can return your form and payment either to the village Post Office, or directly to The Treasurer, Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association, Jasmine Cottage, Abbotts Ann, Andover, Hampshire.

   Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association Limited Registered Under the Industrial & Provident Societies Acts No. 28922R
   Management committee: John Barlow (Chairman), Julie Moon (Secretary) Jackie Stanton (Vice-Chairman), Tim Lowden (Fundraising), David Keable (Treasurer), Luke Rose, Malcolm Turner, Andrew Higgs (Building).