Stores plan falls due to finances (From Free Press Series)

Stores plan falls due to finances

PLANS for a vital grocery store in Tintern have fallen through due to a shortage in finances, the Free Press can reveal.

Stan Smith, manager of Tintern Stores planned to relocate and rent a room at Tintern garage, where he hoped to open a new store at the end of the month.

But, he says after consultations with a financial advisor and builder, he realised it would cost more money than he initially thought to renovate the room in the garage to be a suitable premises to hold a shop.

Mr Smith is set to leave Tintern Stores at the end of this month following the termination of his contract with his landlord, local business woman and community councillor Dawn Floyd following what she says was years of complaints over opening times and disturbances.

Mrs Floyd also claimed that her young son was constantly being woken up at 5am in the morning when Mr Smith was entering the premises.

"Unfortunately I am unable to afford the necessary work that would need to be carried out at the garage before it could be turned in to a store," said Mr Smith.

"You don't make a lot of money by running a village store, it's a matter of getting by. My plan was to work for another seven years, until I was 70 and so I couldn't take out a loan because I would end up losing money.

"Besides I need instant cash to be able to carry out the work straight away and waiting for a loan or a grant would take time. An elderly lady said she might be able to help, but I can't take her money - I'd be in the same position again by owing her money."

Mrs Floyd said: "The whole situation has been extremely sad after we have worked so hard to get where we are.

"It's a pity the whole thing could not be reconciled. There are no winners going to come out of this situation."

Dawn's husband, Ian Gregory, said: "If anyone can put the money up for the materials I will be more than willing to do the work free of charge.

"There must be a solution to this problem, as a community can't we pull together to raise the finances.

"There must be other business people who can take over from Dawn to subsidise a village store.

"I will put my time into the job as long as other business people get together and put the money for the materials and we all work together for the benefit of the community."