Local residents are buying shares in a community-run bakery in a bid to reopen their high street shop.
William Smith Bakers in Dunbar, East Lothian, closed last year, after 155 years in business. But when the family couldn’t sell it as a going concern, Sustaining Dunbar, a not-for-profit association was set up to raise enough cash to lease the premises.
More than £14,500 has already been raised by shareholders -with some investment coming from as far afield as London and Edinburgh - while it also recently secured a £10,000 council loan.
While bakery directors are encouraged by the support, they are still well short of their £35,000 target. Co-director Jo McNamara said they had discovered that the old bakehouse floor would need replacing at a cost of £15,000. But she added: "We’re optimistic and are waiting to hear if we have secured a loan from the Scottish Government, which would mean we could open by Christmas."
No comments yet