Скачать или смотреть Jan 28, 2013 UK_Local shops on verge of extinction in rural UK

There are shops in rural England that are older than Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge -- Itteringham village shop is 370 years old.

Visitors to the shop in this remote region of Norfolk, say it is like an oasis in the middle of a desert.

It was faced with going out of business until 25 villagers stepped in and raised 5,000 pounds [$7,877] to keep it open, and offered to work there for free.

"I couldn't live in this village without a shop", said Val, one of the volunteers

"The community needs a shop, the village needs a shop", said another.

The free workforce allows it to stay open and break even.

Store manager Mike Hemsley told RT:

"I think people are happy in their lives by working for free. It's actually quite therapeutic to come in and do something knowing that your contribution has a meaning and a purpose. The village shop isn't ours, it's heritage and we've got to make sure that it does continue for the next generation."

Local residents say there are two secrets to the shop's success. Most of the stock is locally sourced, which props up the local economy. And there is a second, sweeter secret -- the famous chocolate biscuits. Customers travel far and wide for the homemade treat.

But even with volunteers, staying open is hard. The onslaught of major national chains, whose immense buying power tempts shoppers with food sold for next to nothing, has killed off thousands of independent British shops, leaving ghost villages in their wake.

Author of The Village Shop, Maggie Vaughan-Lewis, explained why such shops should stay:

"Well, obviously, we're up against supermarkets and we all use supermarkets, but to be able to have a local store which does local produce and is somewhere where you can chat to people, meet everybody for the gossip that goes on here is amazing! It would be dreadful if we lost it, because once you lose something like this you can never get it back again."

They are not alone in getting together to save their small shop from extinction. There are 300 other "community stores" in some of the UK's most rural pockets, winning customers by knowing that retail means detail.

James Alcock, advisor on community ownership in rural areas, believes that communities need these local shops.

"Community shops are operating in really difficult economic times, but they're really punching above their weight. Community shops are offering something very often quite different from what a supermarket is offering, for example, they offer cafés, they are offering postal services, they're offering somewhere to go in and talk to your neighbors and your friends."

And if working for free is what it takes to keep the Itteringham shop open then so be it, as another volunteer, Dennis, confirmed.

"I enjoy it, I know it sounds stupid but I really do!"






The Great Day of Annihilation
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