Bromsberrow shop near Ledbury could close as energy bills rocket

Bosses at The Shop at Bromsberrow, in the village outside Ledbury near the M50, said in August that it was facing a "critical financial situation" amid soaring costs.

Co-chairs of the community shop Percy Hunt and Jo Davidson said they had written to members of the shop and volunteers as, in September, the shop’s electricity bill was set to jump to around £7,000 a year and, in November, its rent is due to go up by £1,000 annually.

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While energy support for businesses might have helped since, the shop now has one last chance to save its future, Mr Hunt said.

If a new project team is not formed by November 17 to take the shop forward, it will have to close.

The co-chairs previously said the shop cannot sustain the rising costs, but more pressing than the financial position was a lack of volunteers to help run the shop, open around 60 hours across seven days.

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It forced the shop, which sells groceries, daily papers, local produce and beers, wines, spirits and tobacco, to consider whether it should close, but also whether it could move it to a new location.

The pair said that could be in an existing building or in a new, purpose-built building if it reduced the running costs.

The group behind the shop has been looking to form a project team to establish a "new shop" and was asking for volunteers.

There will then be a project team meeting in the next two weeks and a public meeting on November 17 at 7pm,

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But if a project team has not been formed by that date, it will be the last chance to do so.

"If you will be unable to attend this meeting but can offer some of the skills that we are looking for please contact a committee member immediately," Mr Hunt told locals.

If the group is not able to establish a project team at the meeting, he said there would be "no alternative" other than closing ths hop.

The shop needs volunteers to help run the shop, but also people able to help with funding, planing, design and build knowledge, financial management and accountancy.