MEMBERS of the Blisland Community Association are urging locals to attend an emergency fundraising event on October 1, to help raise £7,500 that is needed to enable the village shop to continue trading.

The Blisland village shop is at the heart of the community, and is there for when local residents need a pint of milk and other essentials, a newspaper, a visit to the Post Office or even a simple bag of sweets for the children.

However, having been hit hard by the government tax demand, the store has suffered financial trouble, having to pay a business rate bill of between £3,000 and £4,000 a year, which has resulted in great concern over the future of the vital village shop.

Following a general meeting on September 12, the old Association and Rescue Committee stepped down, with new residents taking up their new positions to form the new Blisland Community Association.

The new association has recently calculated financial information, uncovering some frightening realities over the future of the shop. There is an ongoing trade loss of around £140 a week, and £3,373 is owed to suppliers, services and employees’ wages.

As well as this, there is currently only £1,800 in the bank and an immediate shortfall of £1,200. The electricity meter reading has not been submitted since 2014, with a projected underpayment of £4,100. With £34,158 in loans due to be repaid as well, the Blisland Community Association is looking at a total of around £35,000 in debts and is losing £7,000 each year.

David Croft, who runs the shop website, is astounded that the shop has reached the stage that it is currently at, but, speaking of the new association, he said: “They seem very clued up and they’re getting stuck into the job, so I think it’s all in very good hands.”

The association has recently been told it has to come up with the sum of £7,500 as a current injection by September 30, (Friday) to enable the store to continue its trade. However, if this money is not realised by this date, the association will have no choice but to close the shop.

Newly appointed treasurer, Beth Cauldwell, expressed the importance of the shop: “We have a doctor’s surgery on a Monday, so people can order and pick up their prescriptions from the store. There’s the café where people come to meet, and so it really is a focal point to the community.

“The shop also has a Post Office and people often come to pick up a pint of milk or a newspaper. It really is a vital link to the community, especially to the elderly and those who don’t really get out very much. It’s critical for those who have no means of transport, because it gets them out and about and allows them to meet people in the village.”

David continued: “It would be very sad if the shop was to close. A hundred people turned up at the AGM, so I think people in the community do value the shop. It’s unifying; it has a café and a Post Office, which is so much better than going up to Bodmin. It’s much friendlier, and it really is a part of village life.”

After putting a series of questions to the village and community, gaining an insight into the full picture of what concerns locals may have, the association is now urging locals and supporters of the shop to donate what they can to the cause, but stress that they do not want loans; the money must be fundraised.

Beth explained that it is difficult to put a reason down to the shop’s struggle. She said: “It’s difficult to say a reason for why the shop is struggling, as I’ve only just picked the reigns up. I’m newly retired as well, so fortunately I can take this on, but it really is a full time job. I think more people need to be using the shop and café and the shop really needs volunteers, so I think that’s part of it. I also think it’s difficult to run a shop unless you’ve got somebody with retail experience, and with the new committee, there are many members with vast experience in retail and the business.”

She added: “I think it will be well placed if we gain the support of the community.”

On Saturday, the association has organised an evening of music to raise money for the shop.

Krysia Osostowicz, the renowned violinist, has recently purchased nearby Lavethan with her husband, and will play an evening of entertainment, featuring Bach’s great Chaconne. The audience will be able to sit back and enjoy the music with a glass of wine and cake, followed by an auction of work that has been donated by local artists.

All proceeds from the event are to go straight into the fund for the shop, and Krysia has pledged her support to the shop and will continue to hold further concerts at Lavethan.

The event will start at 6.30pm and tickets are £10 on the door, but members of the public are advised to book in advance. To reserve seats, email [email protected]. For more information, visit www.blislandshop.co.uk/events/161001-concert.htm