ILMINSTER AREA NEWS: Council grant helps at community shop and cafe

A GRANT from South Somerset District Council has helped with installation of efficient air conditioning at a community shop and café.

Seavington Community Shop and Services Association near Ilminster received a grant of £1,000 from SSDC's Area North Committee towards the cost of their project to install a new system to improve air cooling and temperature regulation in the building.

Customers using the shop and café, and volunteers and staff working there, were experiencing uncomfortably high temperatures for lengthy periods of time and the conditions were also affecting perishable stock, leading to wastage. The new air conditioning is now ensuring cooler, safer and more pleasant, ambient temperatures.

The total cost of the efficiency project was £9,992. The Association received funding from the Parish Council and from the Rural Development Programme Somerset Levels & Moors LEADER fund as well as contributing from their own funds.

The store and café is run principally by local volunteers. Situated next to the village hall, by the recreation ground and children’s play area, it has a pretty outside seating area for cafe customers to use in the summer.

Marion Bennett, a member of the Community Shop and Services Association, said: “The Seavington Community Shop and Cafe is delighted to have benefitted from grant funding to install air conditioning.

“Prior to the installation of air conditioning the extreme temperatures in the premises resulted in high energy consumption, wastage of stock and discomfort for our volunteers, customers and staff.

“Now we can work, shop and eat in a comfortable environment and keep our stock in prime condition. We are most grateful to South Somerset District Council, LEADER and our Parish Council for their substantial contributions to the cost of the project.”

Cllr Crispin Raikes, who represents Seavington St Michael on South Somerset District Council, added: “It’s a great credit to the community of Seavington that they run this shop, largely with a volunteer workforce, providing an important service in the village and with the cafe a popular meeting place for locals as well as for visitors dropping by.”

 You can find out more about how the District Council supports local areas by visiting www.southsomerset.gov.uk/communities.

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