Steve Brine joined Cllrs Jan Warwick and Caroline Horrill among a range of guests as Hursley finally opened its new Community Shop.
The official opening was led by the Mayor of Winchester who joined by Shop Manager Janette Davies and David Killeen/Michael Arthur who have worked tirelessly with the Hursley Community Shop Association to make the vision a reality.
The shop sits on the site which formerly housed the Post Office and shop, and Cllr Jan Warwick, who represents the area on Hampshire County Council, campaigned vigorously to save the site for the community.
She said: “The purchase and continued running of the Hursley Village Community Shop demonstrates the fundraising commitment of the local community and the efforts of local volunteers.
“I was pleased to be able to contribute towards essential equipment from my county councillor grant and we are very grateful for the significant financial support from Hampshire County Council’s rural grant programme and Defra’s Fieldfare grant.
“Both grants have made an essential contribution towards the cost of refurbishment and re-opening of the post office and village shop.”
Steve Brine said: “Britain is a nation of shopkeepers and little stores like the Hursley Village Community Shop are at the heart of the community.
“They’re part of the glue that holds communities together because people come in here every day to get their newspaper and if they don’t somebody can look out for them. It’s all part of the wider wellbeing agenda and shops are critical to that and the local economy.
“My constituency is full of little platoons, little communities that have really big hearts, who want to stick together and want to make a success of their communities. Hursley is a shining example of that. I am so proud of what they have done here, and so proud to be their MP.”
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