Somerset Rural Renaissance received an additional contract to deliver further investments that brought about improved access to existing services, or helped provide new services in the villages and community. Since early 2007 we have been able to support three village shops - at Middlezoy, Seavington, and Stawley.

With the closure of the Middlezoy Village Shop and Post Office in 2006, the community moved into action to establish the Middlezoy Community Post Office and Shop. Capital Grant was given to provide a modular building in the centre of the village to house the post office and provide space to accommodate a small retail outlet for the community of Middlezoy and surrounding villages.

Surveys for a Parish Plan in Seavington showed that residents missed the
social centre provided by the closed village shop and were concerned at the time taken and cost of travel to nearby towns for casual shopping as well as the environmental impact of their shopping trips. Residents formed the Seavington Community Shop and Services Association to provide Seavington with a community owned & run shop and cafe which will also deliver other services. Phase 1, of the Seavington Community Shop project funded by Rural Renaissance, involved finalising the design & allowed application for planning and building regulations approval from the local authority.

The key aim of the Stawley Village Shop project, run by Stawley Rural Community Initiative, was to maximise the opportunity for parking through creation of additional parking spaces at the newly relocated Stawley Village Shop and Community Post Office, in order to protect the long-term viability of the trade. This was achieved by construction of a new staff car park behind the school which removed the barrier for passing trade. This allowed greater access for all members of the community not only for the shop but also the small community room.

These are just some examples of Somerset Access to Services projects funded through Rural Renaissance.

To learn more about other Somerset Rural Renaissance projects just visit our Projects page.