Independent businesses will be celebrated in a Telford village next weekend at a fun-filled fair which will also see the opening of a brand new shop.
Bournville Village Trust’s Spring Fair on Saturday 14th May in Lightmoor Village will champion local businesses, with stalls selling goods and crafts from independent traders.
The event, from 12pm-3pm, will also see the official opening of the Village’s first convenience store/pharmacy, managed by independent pharmacy firm Jhoots.
Residents will be able to meet staff from Jhoots and see what the store, which has created seven jobs and is the company’s second Telford branch, has to offer.
According to recent reports, Telford has the fewest number of independent shops in the country.*
Lightmoor Village, which is being developed as a joint venture between Bournville Village Trust and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), is already home to an independent not-for-profit coffee house and a children’s nursery.
Becci Youlden, Head of Stewardship and New Communities at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We are really pleased to host the official opening of Lightmoor’s convenience store and pharmacy.
“The Village is already home to a number of independent businesses and we are confident that Jhoots will be able to deliver a great service to local people.
“With so few independent businesses in Telford, it’s great to champion local traders and any money that we raise from the event will go to charity Severn Hospice.”
Charlie Jhooty, Acquisitions Director at Jhoots, said: “This is an exciting time for Jhoots. We are looking forward to meeting the people in the Lightmoor community and hope to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the residents by providing a quality service.”
As well as stalls, the event, which is sponsored by Jhoots, will also feature lots of family fun activities.
There will be traditional fairground games and attractions such as a coconut shy, peep photo board and helter skelter hoopla, as well as a bouncy castle and refreshments.
Inspired by Bournville garden village, Lightmoor is currently home to over 1,000 people and includes a community centre, primary school and nursery, an extra care housing scheme and two parks. It will feature 1,000 homes once complete.
In December, approval was given for 200 new family homes to be built on land north of Lightmoor Village by Telford and Wrekin Council.
The work will form the fifth phase of Lightmoor Village, which has benefitted from significant and on-going investment to support delivery by the HCA.
Two, three and four-bedroom houses will be built for sale by developer Keepmoat on the 20-acre site, of which 50 will be affordable homes for rent managed by Bournville Village Trust.
For more information about Lightmoor Village, click here.