Cooperative idea sparks great interest

Gosforth residents interested in starting local community cooperatives have decided to look at three different options: a retail cooperative; a community bakery; and a local skills trading scheme. The retail option would be focused upon ethical and hard to source foods. The skills trading scheme is an innovative idea where residents would offer skills and services to build up credit to receive skills and services in return. The three ideas are being worked up by some keen residents and it is hoped that they will be able to identify resources to develop the ideas further.

The idea of having a cooperative arose out of concern about loss of shops at Ashburton Road but it seems to have galvanised much wider interest in the area.