A NEW community initiative is being launched in Newport, Pembrokeshire to ensure the much loved Havards Shop is kept as a hardware shop for Newport and surrounding areas.
For those who know Newport, Pembrokeshire the Havards Shop is not just a traditional hardware shop but has a considerable amount of essentials and gifts for locals and visitors alike.
The current owners, Bryce and Sonnie Barrett wish to see the community having a chance to purchase and retain the shop and have it as an additional hub for the community.
The shop has been on the market for many months and the option of a community run cooperative shop is one that is now being seriously considered by the locals.
Adrian Varney who is on Newport Town Council contacted Cris Tomos of PLANED to gain support with the initial development phase of seeking funds as community shares and loans from local people.
Cris has been involved and supported many community asset purchases via community shares, such as Canolfan Hermon, Tafarn Sinc, 4CG Cardigan, Cwm Arian Renewable Energy, The White Hart Inn St Dogmaels and other pan Wales initiatives.
The local town councillor, Adrian Varney noted, “the shop is an important building in the town and so many generations have supported and continue to rely on the shop for hardware and gift items. we have to look at a local solution to retaining the Havards shop”
The current owners Bryce and Sonnie Barrett commented, “A community purchase would ensure the character of the shop is retained and future generations can have a shop such as this within the community” they added “We would ensure that all the current business supplier contacts and electronic till and stock control systems that we have developed would be handed over and we would wish to fully support the new community team on how to manage the business successfully”
Anyone who would wish to consider investing in the community project can pick up a pledge form in the shop or on the new community shop Facebook Page that will be launched shortly. Also anyone who has time to join the new community committee can fill in an application form at the shop.
Cris Tomos concluded “Local shops are now being taken on by many communities around the country and there is comprehensive support for community groups, also for investors there will be a opportunities for annual dividends/interest dependant trading profits and an investors tax relief of up to 30% return for UK taxpayers under the HMRC scheme known as Social Investment Tax Relief.”
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