Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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gil
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from village school to community teashop/restaurantA few miles north of here, the parish primary finally shut when the school roll fell to zero, with no preschoolers or infants.
Local people have got together and are forming a Community-based company. They are renting the building from the Council for 9 months, with a view to raising funds to buy it eventually.
Aim is to turn it into a community-run cafe/restaurant/teashop/pub, serving local, seasonal, organic if possible, food and drink.
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dpack
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um
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gil
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There are a lot of visitors through there in the summer, and none of the intended facilities exist already. It is many miles to the nearest. They also want to have space for an arts and crafts gallery / workshops.
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dpack
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my concern is no kids in the area
the scheme sound fine
did the school close throuh lack of kids ?
why no youngsters ?
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gil
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Cohort effects : waves of kids every few years (same round here, but not as drastic), then no births for a few years while the previous generation grows up.
But it isn't good, you're right : the farming population declines, and incomers (the main folk who can afford property now prices have risen) are often retired. Or the rich ones send their kids private, because they don't want them educated in a small remote rural primary.
It has been said that over the last few decades that valley community is dying because of the decline in population caused by the financial failure of hill farming, the decline of land-based employment, conifer afforestation, and incomers without young families. Closure of village pub, shop, post office, and now the school. It is a remote and precious place.
Farming friends of mine in the parish in between here and there are thinking of taking their kids out of the town primary and sending them to our parish primary, precisely becaues they do want them to have that kind of small rural school experience.
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dpack
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um
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