Why support village shopping?

Village shops have long been a key feature of rural life, offering much more than just groceries. They are a source of information, a place to meet and chat, a focus for the village, a safe place for children to visit by themselves. As well as offering convenience shopping to all, they are vital for those without cars, the elderly, and anyone who tends to spend all day at home - and working from home is on the increase. A good shop in the village will even add value to your house!

A recent study of Warwickshire and Worcestershire facilities revealed that "a shop and a Post Office" are the two facilities which would be most welcomed by residents of villages that do not currently have them.

But today's shopping habits, economy and life styles do not favour village shops. Purely private investment in improvements cannot be offset by profits and many traditional shops find that their business is contracting despite their best efforts.

Unless something is done, village shops and Post Offices may become a thing of the past - they are reducing in numbers and those that remain are under considerable threat. A closure affects everyone: as well as a loss of convenience, it will affect the whole look and feel of the village. Many local planning policies do not specifically include measures to protect village shops, and they are often closed down and converted into domestic housing, without consideration for longer-term impact on the community.

Meanwhile, as the roads become more congested, petrol and parking prices increase, so village-based shopping starts to make more sense.

To survive, especially in smaller communities, village-based shopping must change and improve. Local retail services - whether the shop, the pub, the garage or even a service out of the village hall have to offer what customers want; but to do that they may need extra help.

For the first time, villages across Warwickshire and Worcestershire can tap into a comprehensive range of support, either to improve their existing shop, or design and run a brand new service as a community project.

We need community support: enthusiasm, commitment, time and effort - that's where you come in. If you will "buy into your community" then the Vital Villages Scheme will too. The Vital Villages Scheme can offer advice, ideas, training, and help with planning and implementation. We are here to help you to make your village an even better place to live.