Warwickshire News Mine

Paralympic skier for Great Britain, Anna Turney, will officially open Gaydon Village Store at 3pm on Saturday. Anna recently went to Vancouver to represent Great Britain at the Winter Paralympics.

She will be joined by local County Councillor Chris Williams, who supported local residents’ bid to Warwickshire County Council for the Community Development Fund grant.

Stratford-on-Avon Area Committee decided in January to award the £10,000 – the maximum grant amount available – to the Gaydon Village Store project.

Gaydon lost its village store over 20 years ago and as a result the residents of Gaydon and Temple Herdewyke have had to travel a six mile round trip by car to the nearest shops. The village has a large number of elderly residents, families with small children and non-car owners.

A public meeting was held in 2008 to discuss opening a shop. A survey was sent out to local residents and, following a clear desire to have a shop in the village, a plan was formed to open the village store, which will be staffed mainly by volunteers.

The store will be an outlet for local food producers and will distribute end of year profits to other local projects such as the village fayre, church fund, over 60s Christmas meal, and the mother and toddler group.

Chair of Stratford-on-Avon Area Committee, Cllr Mike Perry, said: “The Community Development Fund aims to help communities, especially in more disadvantaged areas of the county, tackle issues of local concern. 

“Competition for grants from the Community Development Fund is always high, but Stratford-on-Avon Area Committee is delighted to grant financial support to the Gaydon Village Store project."

The store has received strong and enthusiastic support from local Councillor Chris Williams.  He said: "The Gaydon Village Store is a good example of how a community have come together to identify the need for a village store for the benefit of local residents and, by further engaging the community, are using local volunteers to run it. 

“The store will enhance the volunteer experience and add value to the village".

Link to WCC