THE managers of a community shop that opened last year in a village church have issued a plea for more people to use it, or lose it.

South Petherwin Community Shop is located in the village’s St Paternus Church, and was officially opened last July by the Bishop of Truro, the Right Reverend Tim Thornton, who at the time said he hoped the shop would become a ‘key asset’ for the village.

The idea for the community shop had received funding from a Dragon’s Den-style ‘Bishop’s Den’ initiative, run by the Diocese of Truro, to bring the project to fruition.

But shop manager Sue Wood-Smith told the Post: “There is an article in the parish magazine [May] that basically said you need to use it because it is not making money, and the funding is going to run out.

“Initially, the open day was packed. We have probably 28 customers a day but we need more. We don’t expect people to use it as a weekly shop but it would be nice to get more people in.”

It is likely the shop and Post Office will close within in the next 12 months if it cannot increase the number of customers, as expenses are coming out of the reserve funds.

The shop sells a variety of things, including local Trewithen Dairy milk, bread from Parkers Bakery, papers and magazines, and the shop also houses a Post Office, which can be used as a cash point. There are special monthly offers and there is also a village noticeboard at the shop, where goods and services can be advertised for a small fee.

The shop is open from 8am to noon, Monday to Saturday.

There are plans to install a ramp at the entrance door, and for those who find steps into the churchyard difficult, there is a parking space at the other gate, giving level access.

The managers are also keen to hear suggestions from the community. Sue said: “Would those of you who find it hard to get to the shop like someone to deliver a regular order of milk and bread, or other items? There is a possibility of changing the opening hours to suit more people — do let someone in the shop know if you have a preference so that the shop can be as user friendly as possible.”

Anyone who might be interested in volunteering an hour or two a week to work behind the counter are also urged to get in touch — more volunteers could result in an extension of the shop’s opening hours.

Sue, or the shop’s assistant manager Kate Edwards can be reached on 01566 788198.

Sue added: “Please would all households make a conscious decision to pop in and buy from the shop once a week. Remember, this is a community shop, run for the community, by the community.”

In response to the plea, the Rev Canon Anne Brown, priest-in-charge of the Three Rivers Team, said: “We would love to see some more customers coming and using our community shop and Post Office.

“The money from the ‘Bishop’s Den’ competition was intended to help us get the community shop up and running, which was very exciting, but the plan was for it to eventually become self-funding.

“Quite simply the shop is not covering its costs at the moment, and that can’t go on indefinitely. It was set up as a community resource, so we would appeal to local people to use it and secure its future. It would be a shame if something that took so much work on the part of so many people was to fail, not least because for some residents it is a really important resource.

“Of course it is a place where people can come to shop and use the Post Office, but it is also somewhere they can meet with others. This can only be a good thing when social isolation is a significant issue in our communities.”