Selaine Saxby MP welcomed the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP to Parracombe to meet with the Parracombe Community Trust at their recently opened community shop and café.
The MP for North Devon, Selaine Saxby, raised the community project on Social Enterprise Day and both she and the Community Trust themselves invited the Leader of the House to come and see them.
Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, said:
“It was great to show the Leader of the House, Parracombe Community Trust, which raised nearly £145,000 in community shares to transform an old public toilet into a bustling community shop and café. This was one of the projects I had raised at Business Questions, and it was an honour to be able to show her the completed project and discuss their plans for community housing.
Penny and I spoke with the volunteers running the trust about the challenges of their project and their key learnings, we have committed to take these back to the relevant departments at Westminster to improve processes and enable other communities to benefit from their experiences.”
Speaking after the visit, Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt commented:
“The Parracombe Community Trust is an exemplary local social enterprise, which deeply cares about the community it serves. I was delighted to be able to meet members of the trust to find out more about their priorities for community investment.
“Transformational new levelling up funding from the UK Government is having a tangible impact in towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. New funding will create jobs, drive economic growth, and boost local pride.
“Parliamentarians can and do affect significant change by championing the causes that matter most in their local areas. Parracombe is a stellar example of that.”
Nick Constable, Chair of Parracombe Community Trust said:
“It was great to welcome Selaine and Penny to Parracombe Pavilion Stores and Cafe and discuss some of the challenges facing community land trusts like ours.
“We have a fantastic band of hard working volunteers and supporters. But we also need to work closely with the politicians and decision makers who help shape village life - particularly on issues such as affordable housing and preserving vital community assets such as our shop and hall.”
