TRADERS and voluntary organisations will be able to use a new Pop-Up shop which has been launched in Fore Street, Wellington.

Town Mayor Janet Lloyd cut the ribbon and declared the venture next to Perry’s hardware store in the former Wet & Wild fishmongers open for business on Monday.

The shop will be available for periods between a week and a month with users paying a commercial rent – zero for charities – on a flexible basis.

The first Pop-Up tenant user is local artist Claire Western who is holding a studio sale for a week from Monday (October 21). The Wellington branch of the Royal British Legion will then use the premises for a fortnight selling poppies for its Poppy Appeal in the run-up to Remembrance Day. Other traders are booked in for run-up to Christmas.

Town Centre Working Group member Keith Wheatley said: “Members of the town centre group have been working on this project for over a year. It’s been a difficult process to find the right premises, agree terms with the landlord and then renovate the shop – which used to be the Wet & Wild fishmongers.”

The goals behind the Pop-Up are to provide extra reasons to visit Wellington at a time when research shows footfall dropping in most UK high streets and to create opportunities for someone who wants to try bricks-and-mortar retailing without the burden and risk of signing a multi-year commercial lease.

Mr Wheatley added: “If even one of those traders goes on take an empty shop in the town on a full-time basis in the first year then it’s been a hugely worthwhile experiment.

“Compared with many small British market towns Wellington is thriving and vibrant but it will take work and imagination to keep it that way. All credit to the town council for having the vision to provide the financial support to make this project possible.”

Artist Claire Western said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to clear out my studio and offer people the chance to buy a painting at a big discount because there’s no gallery commission to pay.

“Like most painters, every few years I end up with more work than I have room to store, so it’s a bit of a clear-out for me.”

The studio sale will also raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society and has a JustGiving page – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Claire-Western1

The Pop-Up is also supported by C & C Carpets, which has provided floor coverings, and Carly Press, responsible for signage. Another group of volunteers has worked hard for the past month to clean and decorate the shop.

Anyone interested in using the Pop-Up can send an inquiry about availability and cost to shop manager Nancy Powell-Brace via npowell