DREAMS are being made on Crediton High Street with the work going on at the back of The Bookery, the community-owned bookshop that has been judged the best independent bookshop in the South West.

What is happening is that the store shed, built in 1971 by Peter Lee when he had the wine shop at that premises, has gone and in its place is being built The Link, a dream of several years’ brewing.

This will join up all the ideas, hopes and dreams for The Bookery with a two-storey space - The Hub - that was built slightly more than a year ago.

This is a big, light, open space, created for The Bookery and where people can drop in or reserve a desk.  There is ultra-fast broadband, storage lockers, a meeting room, a shared kitchen and social areas that can be booked for, say, small demonstrations or discussions.

The Link will join this to The Bookery, making its work easier with people who need individual attention, away from the classroom, as well as better wheelchair access.  The aim is to expand the outreach work of The Bookery.

“We are in the centre of town.  This will bring more people to Crediton, it has the possibility to really grow and reach out,” said Dee Lalljee, The Bookery manager.

“We would like to work more with the isolated and lonely and to work with children.  When we have had an author visit the shop, we had children sitting on the floor.  We could use The Link for things such as that.

“The Link would be the centre of the web of the work The Bookery is doing with such as Crediton Wellbeing, part of the Town Team.  This aims to help people who are lonely or isolated to improve their health.

“There is good evidence that people involved in community activities are likely to feel better, spend less time alone and visit the doctor less,” said Dee.

To make this possible, the The League of Friends of Crediton Hospital and its Community Patients has given a grant for the work.

League chairman, Louise Adams, explains: “The League of Friends was initially set up to help in the care and comfort of the hospital’s patients through donations and legacies from members of the community.

“However, upon the removal of the beds, this income dried up so the League decided to use the income generated from the investment of the remaining funds to offer modest grants to organisations and projects which support the health and well-being initiatives within the catchment area of Crediton Hospital.

“For some time the League of Friends had been looking to support one large project by way of a commemoration of all those who donated to the hospital funds over the years, albeit being used for a different purpose to that which they had intended at the time.

“To this effect the League has chosen to fund the extension to The Bookery in support of the wide ranging benefits it offers to the community.”