WHITLEY stores had a grand opening on Saturday 25th May, when the team officially welcomed the community into the shop, which is in The Pear Tree Inn car park.
It has taken around 18 months for the community shop’s steering group to complete the project with the help of 20 volunteers, to renovate and upcycle the portacabin building.
The team purchased the shop from Blunsdon, a village near Swindon, where it was used as a community shop for around 15 years.
“It feels amazing to now be open. It’s the end of 18 months of hard work by the steering committee and the team of about 20 volunteers who put together the maintenance of this,” explained treasurer of the steering group, Dominic Szanto. “It’s been amazing how many local companies have donated their goods and services free of charge to support the community. Most of the wood and windows were donated by a local business too, which we are very grateful for.
“Having a space in this village for the community to get together for people to donate their time is incredible.”
When the shop opened at 9am on 25th May, Dominic said residents were already queuing up. “Hopefully, we’re very confident that we will continue in the same vein,” says Dominic.
“We are grateful for all the support from Wiltshire Council, Melksham Without Parish Council and other national bodies. ”
The village’s shop and post office, The Toast Office on Top Lane, was closed by its owners during a Covid lockdown. Following a year-long campaign, local villagers got together to open a community shop in the same location. The new village shop, which was owned and run by volunteers, opened in October 2021. However, due to rising costs, the community shop was closed in December 2022, and villagers vowed to find a new venue. In 2023, plans were submitted to build a structure in the car park of the village pub, The Pear Tree Inn.
