Chardstock residents hoping to raise £250,000 to save village shop and post office

Just three weeks into an eight-week campaign and residents of the tiny parish of Chardstock, near Axminster, have reached the halfway point in an effort to raise a quarter of a million pounds to save their village shop.

When the current owners of Chardstock Shop and Post Office announced their retirement, and that the shop and post office would close, a committee was formed to attempt a rescue mission.

With 40 per cent of residents retired and often lonely or housebound, and many parents with young children virtually trapped at home during the day, the shop is the beating heart of the village.

Having lost its only pub two years ago, the committee realised they needed to act swiftly in order for this vital amenity not to follow the growing trend of village shop closures around the rural community.

An ambitious eight-week campaign was launched at the start of February to raise £240,000 in order to acquire the shop and run it as a community enterprise staffed entirely by volunteers.

Just three weeks in and the campaign has already generated half their target. But time is running out and a huge push is now needed to get over the line.

The committee is urging all residents, indeed non-residents too, to come forward with their financial support.

"The campaign is unusual in that it is seeking a combination of three forms of support in one package- donations, subscriptions for community shares and interest free loans", said treasurer Rob Wheeler, "but time was our enemy and we needed to act fast."

Committee chairman Paul Spearing added: "We know it's a big ask and it's up to the parish to decide how much it wants to keep our shop.

"It's a vital amenity which, if lost, will leave many residents isolated and lonely and we'll become yet another anonymous commuter village without a heart and soul."

A surgery is being held at the village hall on Saturday, February 26 to update residents, answer questions and encourage many more parishioners to come forward with their financial support.

"We can do this if the village really, really wants to preserve the shop", said committee member Angie Huskisson.

"It's completely up to them, but the response so far has been tremendous. We just need a big push now."