The Shop Committee's best Christmas present was hearing that we had been successful in our request for funding to cover architect's fees and legal fees.   We appointed the architect and he has arranged for the survey of the chosen site, the public toilets, and, after detailed discussions with the committee, has produced initial plans.

These initial plans were displayed at a public meeting in The Bray on the evening of Tuesday 1st March to let residents see the drawings and provide the opportunity to present their views and opinions.   Over 100 people attended this meeting, a strong demonstration to potential funders that, as a community, we are all supporting the development of our community shop.

Following consideration of the comments from this meeting, and some further consultation with the Parish Council, we can put in for planning permission.

As soon as planning is granted we can then go on to the next stage which is applying for funding to finance the build and fit out of the shop.

Keeping you informed

We will aim to have a public meeting at every important stage and it is vital that as many villagers attend these meeting as this will help us to secure funding.

It is clear that we all now miss not having a shop in the village, not only for the convenience of shopping but also as meeting point for villagers and a hub of the village.   This will be a shop for villagers and run by villagers and we will not be able to do this without your help and support.

Please contact us if you would like to help us fundraise (or please come along and support any fundraising events).   If you would like to volunteer to work in the shop or have any queries or would like to make a comment please contact us.

We plan to create a website for the Community Shop.   That website plus the Parish Newsletters, as well as public meetings will be our main means of keeping you informed of progress and how to contact us.

In the meantime, you can contact us via emailing:   plan@marhamchurch-parish.org.uk

                        Remember, this is your shop!

The committee is also starting to look at the main funding sources for the building and, once plans have been approved and the legal work has been dealt with, we will be in a position to send the plans out to tender.

The Shop Committee wishes to thank Parish Councillors for their continuing support of this project.

*Project part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for European Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas. It is being delivered through the Local Action for Rural Communities Programme by the East Cornwall Local Action Group on behalf of the South West of England Regional Development Agency with Defra as the Managing Authority.*