Community-run shop increases its fundraising target due to gas works
A community-run shop in a Shropshire market town has had to extend its fundraising target as extended gas works have led to its revenue falling by a third.
Our Green Shop in Bridgnorth’s Mill Street launched a community share initiative earlier this year to raise £10,800 for extra stock and equipment.
The shop, which sells zero waste wholefoods, local goods, plant based and organic food, environmental cleaners and household products, is a community-owned, not-for-profit business.
To monitor the progress of its fundraising, the pair of volunteers decided to create a “squirrel-o-meter” in the shop window featuring a red squirrel made by local artists Karen Chambers and Deb Parker.
So far, the Low Town shop has raised £6,000, but director, Brian Millington, says he has now had to extend the fundraising target by another £3,000 due to the ongoing gas works in Low Town, that have seen a third of its revenues wiped out.
Utilities company Cadent began digging up the road in Bridge Street in the town on April 11 to replaced 230 metres of gas main.
The works were set to be completed on May 2, but Cadent Gas received permission from Shropshire Council to extend the works until May 26 - three weeks later than planned.
“Fortunately, our customers, members and volunteers are rallying around to help and making donations to help us reach our new target,” said Mr Millington. “But the work in Low Town is likely to continue until at least May 26, by which date the shop will have lost over £4,000 of income”.
Whilst Cadent, the contractors working on the bridge, have said that some businesses affected can apply for compensation once the work has been completed, Mr Millington added: “Even if we are lucky enough to qualify for this compensation it will likely arrive far too late to save the shop.”
The said the shop is accepting donations and customers and local people are invited to buy between £10 and £1,000 of community shares.
Everyone is welcome to come into the shop or people who wish to donate by buying shares can call 01746 763078.
Cadent apologised for a delay in finishing the works, but said it was among the "most challenging" jobs the utilities company has taken on.
Craig Chittem, Project Manager for Complex Works at Cadent said: “This is one of the most challenging jobs I’ve worked on. The gas pipe that runs through the bridge is one of the oldest in our network and many of the challenges were only uncovered when we began the works.
“One of the issues has been the discovery of electric and phone cables across the original gas pipe and this has meant that we have had to change our original plan and dig a wider hole causing more disruption. Fortunately installing this pipe now will mean much less disruption due to repair work in the future.
“We really appreciate everyone’s patience whilst we carry out these vital safety works, and we are trying to complete the works as quickly and as safely as possible”
