14 May 2014

Local, community-led shop and Post Office affirms “it’s business as usual” despite proposed sale of property

Uley Community Stores (UCS) today moved to reassure residents that the shop and post office is not affected by the sale of the property in which it sits.

Locals feared that the community shop, owned and run by local residents, would once again be under threat of closure if the building was sold.

But UCS Committee Chair Peter Randall, says the shop has a 10 year lease which still has more than eight years to run. He said:

“We are effectively sitting tenants. We provide a valued and commercially successful service in a rural area and we’ll continue to trade and provide all our normal services – whoever owns the property.”

UCS pays an agreed amount of monthly rent and this is governed by the lease. Any buyer would benefit from this income.

The UCS management committee is of course heedful of the sale and a new owner would receive a warm welcome – just like all the store’s customers.

The committee, Post Office personnel and the extensive bank of 60+ volunteers are proud of the store’s achievements since the formation of the community enterprise which began trading nearly two years ago. They are looking forward to celebrating their second anniversary on Saturday 28 June when customers are invited to drop in for refreshments and join in with the festivities.

Gazette coverage: Uley store not to close as building put up for sale