People in an East Hampshire village should save the date as an update on exciting plans to create a community shop and café will be given to residents.

Plans to create a community hub in Greatham have been in the pipeline for more than a year with a drop-in event taking place in the village hall in early January 2025.

Plenty has taken place behind the scenes since with “key influencers” being engaged and potential sites being sounded out with the help of village hall trustees.

A big update will be given next month as members of the Greatham Hub Action Group will present a business plan when the parish council holds its AGM at 6.30pm on Friday, April 17.

“During the meeting we will share our plans for a community café and shop, and present our business plan to villagers,” said a spokesperson for the group.

“We have a further meeting with the trustees in April to present our business plan, with a view to agreeing arrangements to lease the land for the hub.

“We’ve also had fantastic support and mentoring from the Plunkett Foundation, guiding us through the process of launching a community business.”

The bid has also received financial backing from a county councillor as Russell Oppenheimer has awarded £750.

The sum was the joint second highest of ten dished out from his £5,000 Hampshire County Council (HCC) grant pot during the 2025/26 financial year.

The biggest was the £800 awarded to Petersfield Cricket Club for a replacement Heath Pavilion Roof while the Friends of Sheet School also received £750 for a wildlife garden project.

Groups in Liss did well, with £500 going to the Scouts, Liss Archaeology and Families of Liss Schools for outdoor activity equipment, a surveying device, and playground improvement plan, respectively.