THE community pub appeal to save the Tafarn Sinc from closure is fast approaching the final deadline.

With only a few days remaining before the September 30 cut-off date to secure the funds to purchase the iconic Tafarn Sinc pub in the Preseli hills, volunteers on the committee of the community cooperative who want to buy the pub have issued a fresh appeal for interested investors to come forward, otherwise there is a threat that they will not reach the purchasing price.

To date, the campaign has raised £130,400 which has seen 236 people purchasing 652 shares. Once purchased all the shareholders will become members of the cooperative and each person will jointly own the unique rural Pembrokeshire pub.

Shares have been bought from as far afield as Pennsylvania, USA; Saskatoon, Canada and Britany, France.

Current owners, Hafwen and Brian Davies have confirmed they will be closing the doors for the final time on October 28. There is, therefore, a need to gather in all the funds promised by supporters.

The couple themselves are backing the community appeal and said: “We total support Cymdeithas Tafarn Sinc’s campaign to buy our pub.

“We wish them well in their money-raising efforts. We are sure they will manage it.

“We have made lots of friends here and have had lots of fun. We wish the same to whoever succeeds us. It is time for us to move on now and hand the reins to someone else.

“Time is running out. Please support the campaign.”

One of those supporting the Tafarn Sinc committee is Cris Tomos who said. "It is a great achievement to have raised £130,400 in 10 weeks since starting the campaign in a public meeting in Maenclochog hall, mid-July.

"The aim now is to see a sum of £200,000 in share achieved by October 1 and also the committee has endorsed a special peer-to-peer (P2P) lending scheme where a four per cent gross interest rate is offer to individuals who can lend a £5,000 sum to the cooperative to secure the total funds.

“As a target for the P2P, we have 20 lots of £5,000 loans we are seeking and then this will bring in the needed final sum for the pub to be purchased and owned by local people."

The P2P scheme was used as part of the 4CG Cooperative in Cardigan and more than £300,000 was received by local people who have been having a four per cent return per annum over the past five years.

Mr Tomos said: "I have seen how a local community lending scheme has worked well for many years, and with bank saving rates so low this is great way for local people to have a return on their money while also supporting and keeping local assets and services open."

For further details about the cooperative investment scheme and being a co-owner of Tafarn Sinc visit the website www.tafarnsinc.cymru