A COMMUNITY shop has taken the next step after securing its alcohol licence and submitting a planning application.

Brent Knoll's village shop re-opened in a portakabin beside the village green and parish hall in October, and the new location is proving to be a success.

The shop opened as an emergency store at the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown.

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As well as more customers and a growth in sales figures, the shop has secured its alcohol licence and has registered a planning application for the portakabin.

The application states that the building will be used for the Brent Knoll Community Shop for a temporary period of two years.

There are also plans to extend the shop's opening hours, and are appealing for more volunteers. At the moment, it is open seven days a week, but it is only open in the afternoon two days a week.

"We’ve already seen how people are coming into the shop when any of our volunteers are there in the afternoons to restock the shelves,” said David Sturgess, secretary of Brent Knoll Community Shop Limited.

“So we know that we can boost our sales if we can recruit more volunteers to help staff the shop in the afternoons."

Brent Knoll's postman, Tim Dean, officially opened the shop earlier this year, which has already held two community get-togethers.

The next event will be on Saturday, December 4.

“In truth, the use of this portakabin has doubled our monthly rent bill,” said Mr Sturgess.

“So we are hopeful that the parish council is successful in its aim of replacing the public toilets with a new building to provide better toilets and a building for our community shop.”

To view the planning application, visit the Sedgemoor District Council website, and use reference 07/21/00021.