Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Villagers have waited so long for a post office’
Relief as building work starts on new shop
A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction at Smarden community store and post office.
Ashford borough councillor Ken Mulholland turned the first sod as work began this week on the building, which is being constructed in the overflow car park at the front of Smarden Charter Hall.
Villagers enjoyed a glass of bubbly to commemorate the landmark day on Tuesday.
Smarden’s former post office in The Street closed in the summer, leaving the village with an outreach service in the Charter Hall, until residents rallied round to kickstart the new building’s funding.
A total of £89,675 was raised through a community share offer, which was matched funded by the Power to Change share booster programme to the sum of £175,000, in a bid led by Joel Arnstein, which has allowed the project to get off the ground.
A 10-strong management team has been behind the development of the business, modelling the Smarden premises on other successful projects such as
Benenden’s community shop.
Simon Hoyle of Inspired Space Architects has designed the building, while Nigel Crannis, of Crannis Design and Build, will construct it - both businesses are based in the village.
Smarden has had a post office for more than 100 years, but the new branch will reflect modern retail trends. A cafe is planned in the building, where there will be wide wheelchair-accessible aisles, a toilet and baby-changing area.
Staffed by a part-time postmaster and volunteers, the store will be eco-friendly, selling plastic-free goods as much as possible.
Community store and post office spokesman Hilary Fitzsimons said: “It was lovely to see villagers turn out for the ceremony after they have waited so long for a post office. It was a fantastic atmosphere and we would like to thank Cllr Mulholland for all his support and encouragement.”
■ For more information about the scheme, visit www.smardencommunitystore.co.uk