A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Kilve Village Hall at 10.30 am on Saturday (January 24) to explain plans for a community shop.

Kilve Community Shop Committee members have met with the parish council to discuss an application for a grant of £1,000 to allow the committee to register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a community benefit society.

The committee was grateful to the council that the request was approved, and £550 will go immediately to the Plunkett Foundation which will manage the registration with the FCA.

The rest of the money will be held until after a vote by residents in support of the project.

The public meeting will be an opportunity for villagers to see the committee’s business development plan which it is producing, and for a show of public support to be given.

Committee chairman Jim Morris said: “The more people who come, the more we can gauge public support.

“We will also be holding an online survey to get ideas and suggestions for the shop.

“We have held very positive talks with the Fairfield Trust, who are keen to hear more about our plans and have asked us to submit an application for funds.

“Kilve Community Shop Committee is very grateful to the parish council for their support and help in funding and developing this exciting project.”

The committee was formed following the closure of Kilve’s only shop and Post Office almost a year ago.