“The summer holidays are a write off”: Milton Keynes shop struck by car issues update
A Milton Keynes business whose premises were struck by a vehicle last week has said the summer holidays are likely to be “a write off.”
Pottery painting business Kilning Me Softly, located on Newport Pagnell’s High Street, was struck by a vehicle at just after 9.30am on July 21.
The shop was not open to the public at the time, with only one staff member in the building when it was hit by a car.
The staff member was not injured but the Citizen was told they were ‘very distressed’ immediately after the incident.
In an update posted on its social media page today (July 27) the Kilning Me Softly team wrote: “On Tuesday July 21 a car crashed into the front of our building taking with it kiln controls, gas line, electricity, brick walls and our ability to serve our customers.
“Thankfully the only thing hurt was the business and all lives were safe.
“We do not have a confirmed reopening date but it’s likely the summer holidays are a write off.”
The shop will open on Saturday August 1 between 9am and 1pm for the collection of existing orders only.
Pottery painted the week before the crash is currently unfired, and the team are currently looking for somewhere that could help with the process of firing those items.
Kilning Me Softly added in their post: “We would like to say thank you so much for all of the wonderful messages and offers we have received from our customers and local businesses offering support at such a strange time.”
The business was founded by Harriet Thompson in 2013, before she handed the reins over to her friend and colleague Niamh Davey earlier this summer.
After the incident Harriet told the Citizen: “I am gutted that this happened at the start of the school summer holidays, which is always a busy time for us.
“I feel for Niamh that this has happened {just after she has taken over} and she can relaunch after the incident.
“I hope she gets lots of support and that something good can come out of it.”
The business, whose title is a play on the 1973 Roberta Flack hit ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’ was nominated for the title of UK’s Best Shop Name in 2023.