Prince Charles to open Uley Community Stores and Post Office (From Gazette Series)

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, to open Uley Community Stores and Post Office on Gloucestershire visit

11:10am Monday 18th February 2013 in News By Lucy Fulford

THE Prince of Wales will this week give Uley’s community enterprise the royal seal of approval.

Prince Charles is officially opening the Uley Community Stores and Post Office on Friday, February 22.

Villagers in Uley raised £51,000 last year to keep their shop open.

More than 300 residents bought shares in the shop, contributing anything from £10 to £250, and Uley Community Stores opened for business in July.
 
Uley Parish Council, Gloucestershire Rural Community Council and the Plunkett Foundation have all helped the shop become a true community-run hub for the village.

Local tradesmen refurbished the building, volunteers staff the shop and provide administrative support, and the post office is run by two villagers in a paid job share.

As well as officially opening the shop, Prince Charles will be meeting the volunteers and local people involved in the successful co-operative.

Janet Wood, from Uley, said everyone was delighted about the visit.

“It’s a real coup that his Royal Highness is prepared to come,” she said.

“We hope as many people come to meet him as possible.”

Children from Uley Primary School and the village playgroup will be waiting to see Prince Charles arrive, along with the 70 volunteers who work in shifts to keep the shop running.