BBC soap helps save village shops

MORE rural residents are expected to help save village shops since the BBC highlighted the plight faced by many local communities.

At least 40 community-owned shops are expected to open in 2010 – twice the number that opened just two years ago.

Interest in community-owned initiatives has soared since radio soap The Archers featured attempts by Ambridge residents to save their local shop.

The Plunkett Foundation, which helps local people take on ownership of their village shop, said inquiries shot up after the story was aired.

Mike Perry from the Plunkett Foundation said the Archers storyline had contributed to high levels of interest.

“The shop closure rate this year has been higher than ever before. And what people don't always know is that community ownership is an option.”
In the past three years, the foundation has supported 45 community-owned shops to open through its Village Core programme.
Some 27 community-owned shops have opened this year - bucking the economic downturn which has seen many retailers forced to close.
The programme provides financial start-up packages and advisory support to communities looking to set up a community-owned rural shop.
It is run in partnership with the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance.

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