A COMMUNITY shop could move into its new premises in the next couple of months if the project remains on track.

Building work on the new Gosfield Community Shop has been underway since October and is now expected to finish around March or April time.

Shop volunteers and residents staged a long-running campaign to keep it open.

The store was operating from a portable building in the village playing field car park.

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

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

It was estimated it would cost well over £100,000, so the committee applied for a National Lottery grant, which was successful.

Thanks to the grant, together with years of planning applications and local fundraising, work began on the new shop.

The walls are now up and the roof is on, and the clock tower is being repositioned so it remains in the centre of the roof.

Inside, the base will be screeded so flooring can be put down, and electricity and water is being connected.

Plastering is also being done, and doors and lights will be fitted soon.

Committee chairman Brian Payne said: “It is going very well so far and the builders are hoping to finish by the end of March for us to move back in around April.

“Considering we have had some issues with bad weather they have done very well.

“The biggest issue was the roof tiles. We were due to have a nine-month wait for them but thankfully the architect found a new pattern and they were approved so we got past that.

“We can’t wait to open again. We are hoping to get a woman from the National Lottery down for the official opening.

“It is just great to see where we are at now after the saga, knowing it will now be here for generations to come.”