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Post by maree on Feb 9, 2009 23:12:02 GMT 1
Despite the best efforts of the current owners, the Hillswick shop has closed. As folk may be aware some folk in the community were interested in purchasing the shop as a community asset and the NCDC has been looking into how this could happen. After a valuation was carried out on the buildings, the NCDC began looking at funding options and ascertain if the project could possibly go ahead. The responses were favourable so the NCDC carried out a postal survey in Hillswick and Eshaness to see if the community wished to purchase the buildings and set up a community enterprise. 54% of the surveys were returned and 82% of these were in favour of the venture, so we have spent the last couple of months trying to put a feasibility study and a funding package together. All of this takes time, but we hope to have further details of the outcome in the next couple of months and will set up local meetings to speak with the folk of Hillswick and Eshaness. The shop is vital to the area and we are pushing things ahead as fast as we can to make sure the door opens again as soon as possible  |
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Post by aitch on Feb 9, 2009 23:32:03 GMT 1
Sorry to hear about the closure of the shop, all the best with your plans to re-open it in the future.
Is the shop in question the one on the incline to the car park behind the large rocks between the parking area and the beach, does that make sense?
If I remember right, did it have a single fuel pump.
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Post by maree on Feb 10, 2009 14:19:26 GMT 1
You're spot on with your location description aitch. It's a lovely area for a wander round and hopefully this summer Fiona's craft shop will be opening up just along the road a bit.
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Post by maree on Feb 10, 2009 14:23:19 GMT 1
Just to let folk know that the shop closure was discussed at the Northmaven Community Council meeting last night and members have asked the clerk to get in touch with ZetTrans to discuss the possibility of providing a shopper service to the Ollaberry shop whilst the Hillswick shop is closed. I'll keep you updated on progress.
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Post by aitch on Feb 10, 2009 17:04:39 GMT 1
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Post by maree on Feb 12, 2009 23:48:24 GMT 1
Here's a further update on a shopper service to the Ollaberry shop for Eshaness/Hillswick/Heylor/Urafirth folk while the Hillswick shop is closed:
Eshaness as far as the Wirlie - Shopper service to Ollaberry shop Tuesday and Friday mornings at 9.30am
Operated by Martin Mowat
To book a place on this service, Tel 01595 745745 by 1630 the previous day.
Heylor/Urafirth - Shopper service to Ollaberry shop Friday afternoons at 1.30pm
Operated by Martin Mowat
To book a place on this service, Tel 01595 745745 by 1630 the previous day.
Hillswick/Urafirth - Shopper service to Ollaberry shop Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30am
Operated by Johnson Transport
To book a place on this service, Tel 01595 745745 by 1630 the previous day.
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Post by ianmuir1 on Mar 29, 2009 21:45:58 GMT 1
How sad to see the Hillswick Shop close. I remember it well. There was a good community spirit. I have told my parents about the closure and they were also very sad to see it closed.
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Post by maree on Mar 29, 2009 23:17:48 GMT 1
Welcome to the forum ianmuir ......The Muir family that used to own the shop are still spoken of very highly in the Hillswick and Eshaness community for the excellent job they did of running the business. The community is in the process of carrying out a feasibility study into the possiblity of reopening the shop under community ownership, so we hope once again folk will have the shop as a major part of community life. |
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Post by Fifi on Mar 30, 2009 21:11:42 GMT 1
Hi Ian, I'm presuming you're John and Hazel's son? If so, please pass on our regards. <Nick and Fiona Cope> What are they up to these days and how are the rest of the family getting on? As Maree says, they were thought of highly and I'm sure locals would love to hear news of them. |
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Post by maree on May 21, 2009 15:16:45 GMT 1
Hillswick Shop Update NCDC hope the community purchase of the Hillswick shop will go ahead soon. We have a verbal agreement with the vendors and have been lucky enough to source funding from the Community Land Unit to help buy the shop, with the remainder of the funds coming from the bank. As soon as we have finalised the deal in writing, we'll be meeting with the folk of Hillswick and Eshaness to discuss the shop project and look at how we can run the business as a community. I'll keep you posted |
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Post by benjiesmum on May 21, 2009 20:21:23 GMT 1
Just shows what can be done by a community. I do hope that it is successful.
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knm
New Magnie
Posts: 9 
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Post by knm on Jun 17, 2009 13:49:16 GMT 1
the meeting in the hillswick hall about the shop is it tonight and what time??
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Post by Fifi on Jun 17, 2009 23:39:49 GMT 1
the meeting in the hillswick hall about the shop is it tonight and what time?? Oops! Hope you made it! |
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Post by maree on Jun 18, 2009 17:23:17 GMT 1
Sorry.......I've just spotted the questions about the shop meeting. I should have added the meeting here, but time has been a little lacking of late Huge thanks to everyone who attended the meeting. Folk in the area are really positive and willing to help with the community buy-out. We now have a mandate on the legal structure for the community company and lots of folk have signed up for a steering group and a redd up/refurbishment group. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm in the community and this made all the months of paperwork worthwhile. Once again thanks to everyone who came and we'll keep you posted with progress. |
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Post by maree on Jul 17, 2009 22:07:50 GMT 1
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Never work before breakfast. If you do have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first. 
