A community group in Watlington, Oxfordshire, is seeking to buy three high street shops, with the goal of giving local residents greater control over their town centre. The Watlington Community Property (WCP) group has already raised half of its £600,000 target through pledges from residents.
Steph Van de Pette, a founder member of WCP and owner of the So Sustainable shop on High Street, believes that community ownership can help preserve the town's independent high street. 'High streets are in decline right now, and if we can bring those buildings into community ownership, we can provide security of tenure for those business owners and help this lovely independent high street continue to thrive,' she said.
The group is currently in the process of becoming a community benefit society, a not-for-profit organisation that allows communities to own assets collectively. Plunkett UK, a charity that supports community-owned businesses, is working with WCP to help the group achieve its goal.
WCP chair Robin Fieth said that community ownership would 'create a really long-term sustainable future with a landlord who's going to be here for the long term and going to be supporting independent retail.' The group is currently asking for pledges of money, with the minimum investment amount expected to be 'in the region of £500.'