TWO charity shops in Craven Arms will be combining in the New Year.

Severn Hospice has made the decision to combine its two shops in Craven Arms.

The local charity currently has two shop premises in the town, a main shop on Market Street and a dedicated bookshop on The Old Auction Yard.

In the New Year these shops will be combined and books will be sold from the Market Street premises.

Norma Ross, director of income generation at Severn Hospice, has met with volunteers from the Severn Hospice bookshop.

“As a local charity, providing much needed services to local people, we have a legal obligation to ensure that we maximise income for the benefit of our patients,” she said.

“We need to make the best of every penny entrusted to us and we regularly review all our fundraising efforts. Our Market Street shop requires refurbishment as part of the conditions of our lease and we have an opportunity to exit the lease on the bookshop premises, therefore, a review was undertaken.

“Following a thorough analysis of the financial situation of these two shops, we have come to the conclusion that the most cost-effective option would be to combine our shops in Craven Arms.

“While we do appreciate that many people in the town like having a dedicated bookshop, we hope that people will understand the reason behind our decision.”

Although it is not financially justifiable for Severn Hospice to continue trading out of two separate premises in Craven Arms, the charity has responded to requests from volunteers and local residents to save the bookshop and is offering to help set up a community enterprise to be run as a not-for-profit entity. This is intended to enable the community to establish its own independent bookshop.