23^rd February 2001

Dear Fellow Villager

I would like to thank all those who have responded to my earlier letter dated 1^st February and returned questionnaires. We have also had helpful support from Parish, District and County Councillors and our local MP. The responses have been very encouraging as to the financial indications of support and also the very many helpful comments and suggestions. All have been considered and many are being followed up.

As promised, the Working Party has endeavoured to find a solution to the difficulties. The bad news is that we have been unable to persuade the owners to change their minds, but the good news is that we have well advanced plans to establish a temporary facility in the centre of the village. We are indebted to the Village Hall Committee for their conditional agreement, to part of its car park being used to house a modestly sized temporary building on a short term basis. The present intention is to sell a basic range of goods such as, Newspapers (especially including deliveries), sweets, tobacco, magazines, and other items of confectionery and soft drinks as well as a limited range of groceries. We are regarding this as Phase 1 of the plans and hope to be open on Monday 2^nd April with adequate paid staff.

Phase 2 will involve a modern, extremely well fitted out secure building. An example of the building we have in mind can be seen at Haddenham Station and is known as the Station Shop. It is expected that from such a building we will be able to sell virtually the full range of the goods sold in the present village shop. The site is expected to be central and it will require planning permission. We are working on the application at the moment, but achieving permission could take from 3 to 6 months. Assuming permission is obtained we would then cease to use the Village Hall car park and would dispose of the temporary building.

The position regarding the Post Office is a little unclear at the moment, but we have verbal assurances that Post Office Counters will be providing a limited service for up to 12 months. However, clarification and confirmation of the intentions of Post Office Counters cannot be obtained until next week.

As you can imagine, the above will require finance. The Working Party consider that a sum of up to £5,000 will be required to achieve completion of Phase 1 and to finance planning applications for Phase 2. This figure would include working capital for the business, but this would then be transferred to the Phase 2 element in due course.

The purpose of this letter is to seek your support for our plans. Assuming the response to these proposals is favourable we shall be approaching those who have already responded to the financial element of the questionnaire, towards the middle of March to ask for a contribution of 50% of the amount indicated on their forms.

For those interested in the mechanics of the proposals, I have set out on the attached sheet the details of what is envisaged. If further information is required please contact the undersigned.

Yours sincerely

Ray Challinor

Chairman HHSOS Working Party

I am willing/ unwilling to provide financial support when requested in mid March 2001

I agree not to make alternative arrangements for the supply of newspapers

Any other comments

Name

Address

Tel/Fax/e-mail

Early March seek £5,000 to cover

company formation – planning applications – working capital

March Make Planning Application re Phase 2 to Chiltern District Council

March/June Commence applications for grants

Consider formation of IPS