PLANS are in the pipeline to set up a community shop for Hawkley, Empshott and Priors Dean.
Parish residents were sent a questionnaire, and the encouraging response means plans for the shop can start to move forwards.
Isabel Large, who is on the committee which is responsible for the community shop, said: “The idea of a village shop in Hawkley has been brought up a number of times over the years, and it was most recently brought up in the parish plan in 2014.
“We sent the questionnaire out to all the members of the parish and asked if people would support the community shop. A high percentage of questionnaires came back to us and this has given us the mandate to press on with the shop.
“We have had support from across the whole of the community and across all age groups, which gives us a very valid mandate.”
Isabel has also been encouraged by the offers of support which have already flooded in for the shop.
She said: “A lot of people support the shop and say they will use the shop, and a number of people have offered to help at all levels.
“We have volunteers to run the shop and cafe, as well as offers of professional services to help it get going.”
The next stage of the process will be to consult residents about the plans.
“We will hold an open meeting in November to discuss the results of the questionnaire,” said Isabel.
“We are speaking with the parish council and the planning department, and we also hope to work with the Plunkett Foundation, who have supported a number of community shops.
“If all goes well we hope to have formed the village shop by spring or summer 2017 as we have a lot of support.
“Hawkley and Empshott is a close knit community and so much goes on here. Everyone gets involved and there is a family feeling here.”