Published at 09:53, Friday, 06 November 2009

AFTER two years without a village store, residents in Allenheads can finally shop locally again.

Open for business: From the left, Susie Hall who cut the ribbon, store manager Christine Hutchinson and local shopper Norma Spratt.

Villagers have been enduring long road journeys to buy their groceries since Allenheads post office and general store closed down, but last week a new store opened its doors.

The shop is being managed by Christine Hutchinson, who also runs the Hemmel Cafe next door.

The project to get the shop up and running has been spearheaded by the Allenheads Trust, which owns the property housing the cafe and shop.

Susie Hall, an Allenheads resident for 30 years and a keen supporter of the project, cut the ribbon to open the store officially.

Christine said: “It is wonderful to see the shop open at last. Everyone in the village was asked to suggest items that they would like to have on sale here so, hopefully, we have been able to make sure that we are catering for a wide range of needs.”

The shop stocks locally produced goods as well as everyday necessities.

Seasonal items have included pumpkins for Hallowe’en and there is wrapping paper for Christmas.

The shop will not only cater for villagers but also for visitors and the many cyclists who now pass through Allenheads using the C2C cycle route.

The project has cost a total of £30,000, with almost half of that amount coming from a North Pennine Dales LEADER grant.

This money was made available through the Rural Development Programme for England, which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, and is managed by One NorthEast in this region.

The grant ensured that Allenheads Trust could secure a £10,000 contribution from the Big Lottery’s Awards For All programme and donations from the Sir James Knott Trust, Joicey Trust, the William Leech Charity, Hadrian Trust and local councils.

Chairman of Allenheads Trust, Keith Walker, said: “This is fantastic for the village as there has been no shop here for more than two years.

“With the nearest shops eight miles away it has been particularly difficult for anyone without a car. A three-hour round trip on public transport is a long way to go for a loaf of bread!”

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk