Gosfield Community Shop receives £150k from National Lottery

Villagers in Gosfield are rejoicing after securing a huge £150,000 to save their community shop.

The not-for-profit, volunteer-run Gosfield Community Shop is a lifeline for many residents in the village, and can now stay open thanks to the grant from the National Lottery.

The store has operated from a portable building in the Gosfield playing field car park after being set up five years ago.

Planning permission was granted by Braintree Council on the understanding that the shop could operate from a permanent facility rather than from a temporary building.

The shop previously secured permission to build an extension onto the adjacent sports pavilion as its permanent home, however, construction of the new permanent building had to begin by October with an enforcement to close order looming.

Now, the grant which has been secured at the last minute has saved the shop and secured its place in the village.

Gosfield resident Joanne Colyer is a member of the shop committee.

Joanne previously climbed two Scottish Munros to help fundraise for the shop and understands its importance within the community.

Joanne with her brother Ian Tolfts on her climb (Image: N/A)

On the day she did her climb the National Lottery came to visit the shop to see if they could help.

Now the grant has been secured, the shop is not only saved, but the building of the extension can begin.

Joanne said: “We were absolutely delighted when it came through last Friday.

“We knew it had gone to panel, so we were just waiting for the news.

“We had a meeting on Monday night, signed all the paperwork, so we are just waiting for that all to go through before they come and present us with a big cheque.

“Builders are already lined up to come and begin work on October 12.

“The reaction from just the post has been amazing, everyone is over the moon.

“We say it is a lifeline for so many and the reaction proves it, everyone is delighted the shop will be there for many years to come.”