The villagers who make things happen (From Warrington Guardian)

The villagers who make things happen

COMMUNITY spirit has proved to be a huge success in Antrobus - after residents reopened the village shop and ran it themselves.

In the first year of trading, almost £6,000 was raised for the community including the school, two churches, the village magazine and the Friendship Club.

Villagers rallied round in 2003 after the shop had been closed for some time and the post office was in danger of closing because a permanent postmaster could not be found.

The parish council called a public meeting to discuss the situation and concerned villagers attended in numbers.

They decided, after a second meeting, to run the shop themselves, forming the Antrobus Community Shop Association Ltd.

Maggie Pinfold, from a neighbouring village, declared an interest in becoming postmistress, applied for the position and was accepted by the Post Office, starting her new job on October 1, 2003.

The shop opened in November 2003 and was financed by the selling of £10 shares to local residents plus grants from the Countryside Agency, Cheshire County Council, Vale Royal Borough Council and Antrobus Parish Council.

The shop, which is run entirely by 14 volunteers, with a committee of seven, is open for more than 40 hours a week and stocks the usual convenience foods along with newspapers, greetings cards, fine foods, local produce and beers, wines and spirits.

Chairman Mike Barker said: "As part of our commitment to the community, all profits made are returned to the community in one way or another.

"For example, donations were made to the school, two churches, the village magazine and the Friendship Club.

"The local teenagers were taken on an outing to LA Bowl, cinema vouchers were available for the youngsters and the older residents enjoyed small gifts at Christmas."

He added: "The success of the shop is an illustration of the community spirit within Antrobus.

"If there is a need in the village, Antrobus people don't wait around for something to happen, they make it happen."