Welshpool company backs village scheme

08/11/2010 @ 07:17

A Powys village community group has been able to transform a garage into a village shop, post office and tearooms thanks to backing from Welshpool based Potters Waste Management.

The Trefeglwys Community Shop Limited group hopes that the centre, trading as Cwm Trannon, will become the focal point of the village with educational and community facilities included following financial backing from Mr James Potter.

Potters Waste Management, part of the Welshpool based Potter Group, operate the Brfyn Posteg Landfill site at Llanidloes.

John Green, chairman of the project group, said he was delighted with the funding provided by Potters Waste Management.

“Cwm Trannon is delighted to be associated with The Potter Group. Cwm Trannon would not have been possible without their support.

“It is wonderful to have local businesses supporting ventures for the benefit of the community such as Cwm Trannon”.

“This will really bring the community much, much closer together and benefit residents of all ages.

“Following the closure of our local shop and post office and the potential closure of its garage, the Community Council called a public meeting to see if anything could be done to prevent these closures.

“The meeting was attended by more than 100 people and a steering committee was formed.

“It concluded that there was support for not only a retail shop, post office and garage, but for additional facilities including a cafe, internet access and a florist.”

Mr James Potter said, “We are always pleased to be able to support the communities we serve and the Trefeglwys project is a perfect example.

“I consider village and rural life to be vital for the future wellbeing of our area and for Trefeglwys to lose its shop and filling station would have been extremely damaging for the locality.

“I am full of admiration for what the Cwm Trannon Team has been able to achieve and very pleased that Potters Waste Management has been able to support them,” he added.

Doors to the facility opened last week and there will be a formal opening early in the New Year with staffing and running costs supported by a £247,604 Big Lottery Fund grant.

Picture caption:

Left to right: James Grafton Cwm Trannon Group member, James Potter of Potter Waste Management, John Green, chairman of Cwm Trannon Group and Mark Chappell, joint shop manager.