Charlbury Deli & Cafe / shareholders

Tue 24 Feb, 11:13

OK Miles, challenge accepted!

1.      I’m not aware of any concerted effort to ‘attract new businesses’ to the town.  Rather the opposite – the WODC planners have consistently failed to apply their own policies effectively and have allowed or acquiesced in several changes of use of commercial premises eg News’ n Things.  How many ‘The Old…’ can you count in the centre??

2.     Private businesses come and go.  Look at old posters and leaflets (probably in the CH!) and see how many are still here. 

3.     The Bell and the Bull (how many owners has that had in the last 35 years?) have gone upmarket and probably now get most of their business from out-of-towners.  Though some of their customers also come into the Deli so we complement each other rather than competing.  That we hope will also be true when the Bull team opens a new shop in Old Bank House – just wish they’d get on with it!  We though are far more orientated to the community as a whole, from the early morning builders & commuters to catering for events to the ladies (and many others!) who lunch….. 

4.     Yes, there are other legitimate new private businesses but is it the Deli competing with them or them coming in and taking trade away from the community owned business?  And anyway, why should their (probably temporary) presence be a reason for the Deli & Café to close, not to mention the consequent loss of jobs?

5.     There is always room for improvement of course. Which is why I’ve tried to encourage more people to get involved, to try to build up the business.  And the emphasis has changed, not least because we don’t have the space we used to.  A point for the future perhaps.  Ultimately people will vote with their feet so if Charlbury no longer wants it, the business will close.  But there are still plenty who do.  And if we can get through to the summer, I’ve no doubt there’ll be plenty more.

6.     The move into the CH wasn’t motivated only by the lease approaching its end.  It was also because a community owned business would be much better located in – and supporting - a community owned building (and eventually becoming a Community Benefit Society not a limited company which could attract more funding). 

7.     Bottom line.  If you prefer to give your money to a ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ private business, whose first and only motivation is private profit, then fine, go ahead.  Alternatively, by using – and even better, getting involved in - the C D & C you will be supporting the community you live in.