Aynho Village Shop

At a meeting at the Cartwright Hotel in early December, villagers voted to press ahead with efforts to set up a community-run, not-for- profit shop in Aynho. Winifred Robinson and Stephen Brook who are members of the Shop Committee explained that the Cartwright is no longer being offered as a possible location for the shop because all the space there is needed for the hotel. The meeting agreed that the Old Scout Lodge was probably our next-best option. It is the only vacant commercial property in the village and is currently for sale. The Shop Committee is now working on a planning application with the help of Peter McCorkell an architect who lives at The Glebe who is giving his services free. Once we know that planning permission for a shop is likely, we will begin raising the necessary money from grants, fundraising and individual loans and donations. The Shop Committee has investigated two other suggestions from the meeting - to put the shop in the village hall or to erect a new building at the end of the Glebe. The planners have rejected the idea of the Glebe and those who run the Village Hall tell us that it could not accommodate a shop. The Shop Committee thanked all those who have volunteered their help and support so far. It still needs to find a lawyer and an accountant in the village willing to work on the project. If you would be willing to help in any way please call Winifred Robinson on 01869 811032 or email help [at] aynhovillageshop [dot] co [dot] uk