Villagers on track to get shop open by summer
A north Shropshire village which has been without a shop for 18 months could have a new one by May, ending a six-mile trek for supplies. A north Shropshire village which has been without a shop for 18 months could have a new one by May, ending a six-mile trek for supplies. People in Cheswardine, near Market Drayton, clubbed together to launch a community shop after Denis and Jane Moore, who ran Moore's Stores in the village for more than 30 years, retired in 2008. Now the project has taken a major step forward and supporters hope to serve their first customers in May.
People in Cheswardine, near Market Drayton, clubbed together to launch a community shop after Denis and Jane Moore, who ran Moore's Stores in the village for more than 30 years, retired in 2008.
Now the project has taken a major step forward and supporters hope to serve their first customers in May.
It means people will be able to get hold of groceries and other every day items without travelling for six miles to the nearest town.
The shop is being set up in a storage area at the back of the Fox and Hounds pub in High Street, Cheswardine.
Amanda Parish, chairman of Cheswardine Community Shop Group, said: "Few people realise how hard it has been to get to this stage but we are now hopeful of opening in May.
"We have been doing the shop out and there are new windows and doors in."
Shropshire Council is to decide on the plans next month.
Councillor Mike Hill, chairman of Cheswardine Parish Council, said: "I can't wait for it to open and I think it's a marvellous thing the shop group is doing and deserves our congratulations.
"The old shop was a hub for the community and many local people loved it and exchanged information, or you could say gossip, in there so it's really tremendous we are on the brink of getting a new shop."
The scheme has been helped by Joules Brewery, of Market Drayton, which owns the pub and approved the use of the annexe as a community shop. Further help has come from Muller Dairy and Shropshire Council in the form of £6,500 towards set-up costs.
