Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has welcomed today’s announcement that Llandyrnog's community shop is to receive £200k from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund to enable it to be purchased and reopened.
The £150m Community Ownership Fund is for communities across the United Kingdom, providing people with the opportunity to become owners of at-risk local pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds and corner shops.
When it was launched, James encouraged people in the Vale of Clwyd to apply.
Llandyrnog resident Emyr Morris made an application for funding to purchase and develop the community shop in the village, and it has been announced today that his application has been successful.
Welcoming the news, James said:
“This is absolutely wonderful news. Emyr and his team have exciting plans for the shop and I am delighted that he will now be able to proceed with these thanks to the £200k they are to receive from the Community Ownership Fund.
“As well as enabling the purchase and reopening of the shop, the money will be used to install a cafe and create a hub for mental health and loneliness services.
“The Community Ownership Fund is part of the UK Government’s plan to build back better from the pandemic by giving communities the power to save the local institutions that foster a sense of community.
“I am confident that the reopening and development of the Llandyrnog community shop will provide that sense of community, and that the facility will be a real asset to the village.
“I thank Emyr for all his efforts progressing this and congratulate all involved on their success. I have been pleased to assist them along they way and I very much look forward to visiting the shop once it is reopened.”
Emryr has previously said that his decision to try and reopen the shop was driven by the closure of two pub/restaurants, the shop, butcher and the Arla Cheese factory in the village, which he said had left the village “a sorry shadow of its former self”. A shop selling essential groceries had been open in Llandyrnog since 1841.
Commenting after hearing today's news, he said:
"I am absolutely delighted that we have been successful in our application to the Community Ownership Fund and the Department for Levelling Up for their support of £200,000 towards our project to purchase and save the future of our Post Office and to reopen the Shop for the village of Llandyrnog.
"I want to thank my fellow Directors for the time and dedication to bring this project alive, and in particular our local MP Dr James Davies for supporting us in our endeavour. I hope that the enthusiasm of the local community will reap benefits for everyone. We still have some additional grant that we require to make this a reality, but this is a huge push forward for the project."
Llandyrnog County Councillor Merfyn Parry said: "This is excellent news for Llandyrnog community. It's the kickstart the village needs."
ENDS
You may also wish to read:
Supporting the Llandyrnog Community Shop: https://www.jamesdavies.org.uk/campaigns/supporting-llandyrnog-community-shop
Voluntary and community organisations urged to take advantage of new £150m Community Ownership Fund: https://www.jamesdavies.org.uk/news/voluntary-and-community-organisatio…
Communities across the Vale of Clwyd can bid for UK Government funds to save pubs, clubs and historic buildings: https://www.jamesdavies.org.uk/news/communities-across-vale-clwyd-can-bid-uk-government-funds-save-pubs-clubs-and-historic
