RESIDENTS in Llandyrnog are overjoyed after securing enough funds to purchase a village shop, a post office and to create a new community hub.

There has been a shop in the village since 1841. It served the community [in its current location] from 1982 until its 2020. After the loss of two pub/restaurants, a shop, butcher and the Arla cheese factory, ambitious residents decided to pull together to try and save the shop and introduce new services for the community.

After tireless efforts and the determination to overcome challenges, residents have now received the much-wanted news that the Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme has granted the project £200,000 to support the purchase and renovation of the building.

This award is matched by £200,000 from the UK Community Ownership Fund which was granted last year.

A further £51,000 has been raised through a 'Community Share Offer' scheme.

Emyr Morris, Llandyrnog resident who has been leading the project along with directors Viv Rosser, Jackie Le Fevre and Gina Johnston, and chair Ivan Butler, said: "What this latest news means is that we can finally go ahead and buy the building to secure post office services, a village shop and create a community hub for the people of Llandyrnog for the long term. This is a fitting recognition of the remarkable support for the project shown by over 300 individual investors who raised more than £51,000 in the Community Share Offer back in the Spring.

"In these difficult days when banks branches are closing, costs of travel to access shops and sense of community can be difficult to find it is great to be able to bring some good news for local people.

“Myself and my fellow directors are looking forward to being able to thank many of those who have supported the project so far at the meeting next week.”

Llandyrnog Community Shop and Post Office Project is a Community Benefit Society run by a voluntary board of directors.

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The society has a three part mission: To fundraise enough funds to buy back the village shop and Post Office for the community of Llandyrnog; To revive the village shop and Post Office back to its former glory whilst introducing new services for the community and to serve the community of Llandyrnog and surrounding areas with local produce and "vital services".

Residents and shareholders are invited to an open public meeting in Llandyrnog Village Hall at 7pm on Wednesday, October 11 to hear the next steps for the project and ask questions of directors.

As the project goes forward, more volunteers will be required. Anyone interested in getting involved should email llandyrnogcommunityshop@btinternet.com