RESIDENTS in a dale village are being asked to buy into ambitious £200,000 plans to turn a former chapel into a cafe, shop and heritage centre.
A group of Cotherstone villagers are in the process of forming a community benefit society (CBS) to lease, renovate and run the former Methodist Chapel.
The group has produced a fully costed business plan and is appealing to fellow residents to buy shares in the project. They hope to raise £100,000 through a community shares scheme, with the other £100,000 coming from match funding and other grants.
If successful, the group aims to sign a 25-year lease on the building from the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Methodist Circuit in September. To aid the scheme, the group has become a member of the Plunkett Foundation, which facilitates and supports the growing number of community cafes and shops across the country.
The Cotherstone Old Chapel Project was launched in response to the closure of the village shop in July last year and the earlier loss of the local cafe.
Members of the group want to provide a day-time community venue for both residents and the many visitors, walkers, holiday makers and caravanners who pass through Cotherstone.
They say they aim to work alongside the two village pubs – the Red Lion and Fox and Hounds – the village hall and the Fitzhugh Library, in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Avril Tully, a retired director in the charity and voluntary sector and a member of the group, said the success of the project would rely on community involvement, both in helping to raise the money and, if it proceeds, volunteering to help run the cafe, shop and heritage centre.
“At the last village meeting over 18 months ago, there were many people enthused with this idea, which is now moving towards a real possibility.
“We have produced a costed business plan and have support from advisers who have vast experience in similar enterprises. We have made connections with similar enterprises to learn from their experiences.”
She added: “We are currently researching and making applications to a range of organisations and trusts who may be able to support our ideas. There is, of course, still a lot of work to do.”
The group has circulated a newsletter to every home in the village updating residents on the project. It also includes a response form asking residents whether they back the venture and if so, how they would be willing to support
it.
A prospectus is being produced with more details about how to buy shares.
Those involved stress that the success of the project is “heavily reliant” on the sale of enough community shares to raise enough money.
If they fall short of the target, the group will withdraw its interest in the Methodist Chapel.
Ms Tully added: “We have now reached the point where this really does become a community project. You don’t have to live in and around Cotherstone to support us.
“Anyone who loves our village or wants to be involved in the project is very welcome.”
For more details about the project or to sign up for the newsletter, email info@cotherstoneoldchapel.co.uk.
