Pleas to help save village shop

The owner of the only shop in the village will leave in the summer

Villagers fighting to save their last remaining shop will be taking the next step in trying to turn it into a community-run, not-for-profit store.

The current owner of the building in Glenfarg will be leaving in the summer after about a decade in the job.

Local people fear that if they do not take it over it will be turned into houses and they will have to make a 10-mile round trip to the nearest shop.

Residents will be asked to approve the plans at a public meeting on Thursday.

If approval is given, work can begin on setting up a company, raising funds and eventually electing a board of directors.

We are trying to offer a resource that the community will own and manage and it'll belong to the community Donald MacKenzie GCSI

Donald MacKenzie, chairman of the Glenfarg Community Shop Initiative (GCSI), told the BBC Scotland News website that it was essential the store is saved.

"The shop is central to the community, it's the hub of the community," he said.

"Without it, Glenfarg would be left in basically splendid isolation, because the nearest shop would be five miles away.

"We have a lot of people without access to private transport, a lot of elderly people for instance.

"It would really take the heart out of the village if we didn't have the shop."

'Clear mandate'

More than 400 homes have been sent leaflets about the public meeting and Mr MacKenzie is confident the plan will be backed by locals.

He said: "From the survey we carried out last year we were given a clear mandate to take forward our plans for a not-for-profit, community-owned shop for Glenfarg to safeguard this essential facility.

"A staggering 99% of all households responding to the survey considered it important that there continues to be a convenience store in the village."

It is hoped that locals will be able to purchase the shop in June, then carry out a month-long refurbishment before a grand opening on 1 August.

The public meeting will be held at 1930 GMT in Arngask Parish Church.