Brent Knoll’s Community Shop will next week move from the current village shop premises to a specially equipped Portakabin building in the public car park next to the Parish Hall and village green.
The move has been made necessary by the recent sale of the village shop premises.
Since launching the community shop venture during the first lockdown, Brent Knoll residents have backed the facilities, with more than 130 residents becoming shareholding members.
The shop’s success has also attracted national media attention, having been featured on the BBC Radio 4 “World Tonight” programme and being cited as a case study in reports to Government about successful rural community ventures.
“From day one, we have had the support of our community for this shop, which stocks a wide range of locally produced quality produce, and is open seven days a week,” says David Sturgess, Secretary of Brent Knoll Community Shop Limited, a Community Benefit Society.
“We shall be moving our operations from the former village shop to a Portakabin in the village car park on 12th and 13th October, with the aim of avoiding any interruption to our services.”
The move means that the shop is having to apply for a new alcohol licence, as this could not be transferred from the village shop premises. “This process is well underway, as is our planning application for the Portakabin”, adds David.
