One Year On
Yes, on the the 21st July, it was one year since we opened for business. This has been an enjoyable experience for us and we hope for you.
We have made many new friends and found everyone pleasant and courteous. During this time we hope your have found our stock meets your requirements but if not please do not hesitate to mention to us any new items that you think would be beneficial.
The Lottery
We have been asked many times to provide this service. We are on Camelot’s waiting list and doing our best to bring this forwards.
If you wish to have newspaper deliveries please let us know.
Paystation
Would customers please note that we now have a Paystation Terminal installed. This enables us to recharge electricity keys, Quantum Gas cards and top up mobile phones at any time during shop opening hours, weekdays and week-ends.
This is an improvement to our service which we hope will be a benefit to many of our customers.
Thank you for your support
Udi and Dina
Castlethorpe lost its village shop and Post Office in 2005 and, almost immediately, a campaign was started to replace it. Land was identified and effectively donated by MKC and funding was obtained from a number of sources including planning gain, MKC, the Parish Council, the Post Office, the Village Retail Shop Association (Virsa), Co-operative and Community Finance (a bank which works with Virsa), Buckinghamshire Masonic Centenary Fund and a tremendous response from residents and local businesses.
A separate company, Castlethorpe Village Shop Association Community Interest Company (CVSA), was formed and the shop was built and equipped in a very tight timeframe to open on 21st July 2007. CVSA leases the shop to Udi and Dina Modhwadia at a concessionary rent in order that the shop should remain economically viable whilst keeping the lowest possible prices.
The shop has been a tremendous success and has provided a social focus in the village as well providing much needed services. It has also now received a letter from the Post Office saying that it will remain open despite the current round of closures. It is really important that we all use the shop and make sure we are never in the position of losing our only shop again.
CVSA is owned by its Members who have to be residents of the village. There are currently 44 Members. It re-paid its commercial loan in June 2008 and the personal lenders in December 2008 so the shop association is now debt free.
Contact Phil Ayles Telephone 510590
