Community takes charge of Chardstock village shop after successful fundraising campaign

Chardstock shop and post office has now opened under the ownership of the community, following a successful £257,000 fundraising campaign to save it from closure. 

Villagers came together to prevent closure of the shop and post office after the previous owners announced their plans to sell and move away from the area. 

An ambitious fundraising appeal was launched to buy the facility and adjoining three-bedroom house with the community coming together to successfully complete the purchase. 

Residents bought shares in the business, offered interest-free loans and gave donations. This was boosted by a £180,000 grant from Chardstock, sourced via loan through the Public Works Loan Board,. with a parish referendum showing 60% were in favour of helping to pay this back through an increased council tax precept to help save the shop and post office.

After the previous owners moved out earlier this month, the shop opened under the new ownership of the community on February 16. It is now being run but a committee and, aside from postmistress and shop manager Emily, is entirely staffed by volunteers.

The committee's operations manager Jim Willis said: "We wanted t save the shop because we did not want Chardstock to become a dormant village. We're very close-knit community and it would have been devastating."

The village has already seen the closure of its only pub, The George Inn, and a separate campaign is underway to see the dilapidated building brought into good repair to attract a buyer. 

The village shop and post office has now been given new signage, with exciting long-term plans to extend it to the side and create a tea room in part of the garden behind.

The adjoining three-bed property will be let by the committee, with rent helping to develop the shop.

Alongside the post office counter, the shop continues to offer the same range of groceries, household essentials and newspapers, with plans of expanding its offering as the shop grows. 

There are also plans to offer a delivery service to local elderly or vulnerable residents, and for shoppers order in and collect specific goods they may want.

Chardstock community shop is currently open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9am 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, and fro 9am to 12noon on Bank Holidays. 

It is hoped a grand opening event will be held in March with further details to be announced soon.