DON COLLINSON, of Beacon Road, Kingswear, writes:

Dartmouth, for a small town, of recent date has had not one but two major disasters.

The first was in Higher Street, a disastrous fire that seriously damaged several businesses and could have completely destroyed a town gem, the 'Tudor House', However, due to the tenacity of the property owners and traders, after over two years the businesses have been restored.

The second disaster is the closure, after some 60 years' trading, of the much-loved 'Winnie the Pooh' Harbour Book Shop.

Fortunately, due to the caring Dartmouth and Kingswear Society and, more so, the Dartmouth Community Group, who (on a six month basis) kindly allocated premises in Newcomen Road, where with the previous quality staff, the bookshop recommenced business.

However, time marches on (practically gallops), so to accommodate the six-month witching hour, a community business team have launched a commendable £20 share scheme (with a March 16 deadline) to raise a basic £50,000 workable fund.

This will service the anticipated, initial £80,000 outlay, mainly serviced by £75,000 book sales.

It is hoped the shares will be acquired by caring local, second home, and national people who over the long years have shared and enjoyed the service and ambience of the former bookshop.

So, as a permanent resident, and shareholder, I believe this commendable project presents a unique opportunity for the sizeable number of Dartmouth and Kingswear second home owners, (who enjoy residence) in this 'other Eden', to assist in securing a future for this Dartmouth gem.

The £50,000, in £20 share scheme, equates to the sale of a mere 2,500 shares, in which Dartmouth and Kingswear residents will participate, and hopefully, a number of second home owners.

The latest housing record, from March 31, 2011, makes interesting reading, for the combined total of adjacent household residences is 3,207, of which Dartmouth has 2,378 and Kingswear 829.

What is even more interesting is the combined total of second holiday homes is 780, Dartmouth 584, and Kingswear 196, both approximately 24 per cent.

So in both areas almost a quarter of residents are part-time occupiers, and as the general purchase price of second home properties here, roughly range from £500,000 to £2,000,000, the support purchase of some of the necessary 2,500 £20 shares is minimal when compared with initial house purchase prices.

So, some modest share acquisition would really assist this former countryside much loved 'Christopher Robin, Dartmouth Pearl' to continue providing quality service, to local, second home owners, and nationwide book lovers.