The Ferry Stores - Update

About a month ago this blog carried an update on the situation at the shop following the family's announcement that Jonathan would not return to running the business - see post here. Since then, the shop staff, along with Jonathan's sister Cecilia, who has been coming across from Banchory to help for three days a week, have done a tremendous job in keeping the business going. At the same time, the West Ardnamurchan Community Development Company has been pressing on with the lengthy process of registering a community right-to-buy, one stage of which required it to change its articles - which was successfully done at the EGM last Thursday. The minutes can be downloaded here.

The minutes also describe a further step WACDC is taking, which was agreed unanimously by the company members at the EGM. It has been talking to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and, as a result, has obtained a grant to fund an expert appraisal of the business, along with advice on matters such as how the business might be structured and run as a community shop. This is scheduled to be completed by Christmas. A very important part of this process will be community consultation on whether the community wants to buy the shop and the house - even though there is probably a long way to go before any final decision can be made.

That WACDC is going to such lengths with the full support of Jonathan's family is a clear indication that the shop is now for sale, and the family have indicated that they would welcome an approach by anyone with an interest in buying it.