School Road,

Langham

Telephone
01206 272431

The Village Shop closed in 2002, with it the village seemed to lose its heart and its focal point and become simply a dormitory rather than a community. The idea of a Community Shop came from those providing refreshments at the Bonfire Night in 2002. There followed almost two years of fund raising, legal wrangles and many setbacks and delays. The Community Centre was the obvious location as it is central, well used and has a car park. Initial discussions with planners resulted in a refusal of permission for an extension to the Community Centre. However a temporary building was permitted and the green cabin you see in the photographs was the result. The cabin was positioned on the 13th September 2004, the Post Office opened on 30th September and the shop opened fully on the 16th October 2004.

The first year was a worrying time but regular checks on the takings were very encouraging. By the end of the first year of trading the outstanding loans had been repaid. After the first year a part time, paid manager was appointed and this has proved a worthwhile investment in numerous ways. Sadly rural Post Office closures affected us and we now have an Outreach Post Office providing a full service on two mornings a week. The temporary planning permission become an issue and in 2009 the Parish Council and the Community Council produced a plan to extend the Community Centre to provide a purpose built Preschool and a permanent site for the Shop. Many funding source were sought, with Sure-Start and the Plunkett Foundation provided substantial amounts. The building was finished in December 2010 and the new Shop was formally opened on 22nd January 2011.

Slides shows the beginnings and progress of the Shop.