THE prospect of a village shop returning to Limpley Stoke seems more remote after planning permission was granted to change the former premises into a home.
The former village store and post office in Lower Stoke, Limpley Stoke, was last run as a post office in August 2004, closing altogether in June 2005.
The owners of the premises Adrian Goddard, 47, and his wife Ros, 36, told West Wiltshire District Council's planning committee there was no demand for the unit due to the limited size of the premises, constraints over access, a lack of parking, no opportunity for expansion, competition in the local area and the dispersed nature of the village.
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Limpley Stoke Parish Council objected to the application as it said there were no other suitable premises in the village for a store.
Shop owner Mr Goddard said the community had not supported the shop and was hurt at suggestions his wife had run the facility down.
"We're very happy that we've got planning permission. It's taken an awful long time.
"The parish council wanted to stop the change of use. The council was trying to protect what the village had left but they didn't look at all the facts about the size of the premises, the lack of parking and the demography.
"The parish council wrote to Wiltshire District Council inferring that my wife had deliberately ran the shop down and she was very hurt by that because she tried to make it a success and extended the range of goods with organic and local produce as well as all the other basic products that everyone would want to buy.
"My business subsidised the shop and my wife gave up a well paid job to run it.
"Generally, the community have failed to support this shop and a small amount of them have shifted the blame to us."
Among the reasons given by the couple for the failure of the store and post office were falling profits, longer working hours and increased security risks, following a spate of armed raids on post office branches in the county.
Chairman of Limpley Stoke Parish Council Simon Coombe said: "The main expression is of extreme disappoint because we have lost a very valuable amenity in our village and the community will suffer.
"We are working closely with our neighbouring village, Freshford, to open a shop there, which will be built next to the village hall.
"Planning permission was granted a couple of weeks ago so the next thing we need to do is fundraising."
In a report to councillors, planning officer Kenny Green recommended the application be granted.
In his report he said: "Following a lengthy marketing exercise which resulted in little interest being shown in taking over the business premises, it has been satisfactory proven that the most suitable use of the ground floor would be for residential use."
At the meeting Cllr Virginia Fortescue said: "It's sad but we all know how these shops struggle. I come from Steeple Ashton and our convenience store closed and now we have a community shop. I think the shop's location and demography are both against it. "
The councillors unanimously voted to grant the application with one councillor abstaining.
Posted by: metro, trowbridge, on 7:28am Thu 15 May 08
Even if the villagers did get the shop reopened I doubt whether they'd use it much. The same happens when a bus service is about to be withdrawn from a village;they campaign to save it, but never use it.
When will these people wake up and live in the real world? The days of 'chocolate box' vilage life have long gone!
Even if the villagers did get the shop reopened I doubt whether they'd use it much. The same happens when a bus service is about to be withdrawn from a village;they campaign to save it, but never use it.
When will these people wake up and live in the real world? The days of 'chocolate box' vilage life have long gone!
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