Community rallies behind village shop Councillor ‘disappointed’with decision
An award-winning village shop set to close on Saturday has been met with overwhelming support by over a thousand people.
The dispute in Aberuthven centres around the use of the village hall, which is run by the Village Hall Trust.
The shop currently relies on the hall for storage, but a dispute over an electricity bill has put its future in doubt.
A Facebook survey was launched on Tuesday, December 4 to determine the shop’s fate.
At the time of publication the survey had drawn over 1200 votes – with a staggering 99 per cent of voters wanting it to remain open.
Owner Clare Dodds (44) claims to have paid the bill of £3150 that was sent out on November 2.
She claims she received another letter on November 20 saying she had three months to either install her own utilities for her business or close down.
But due to the high costs and issues with her health it’s been forced to close.
Claire said: “The shop has created three jobs in the area and it has brought a real hub of activity to the village.
“We expanded quite quickly and I think a couple maybe are not accepting of that. I have two operations in the next six months.
“All of this has put an impact on my health. The way this will affect the community is wrong.
“We sent out a questionnaire in 2016 to see if the local people felt they needed a village shop and 100 per cent wanted to see one open.
“It’s been great and it has been successful and has become a vital part of the community.
“I spent my life savings, £44,000, on the shop to get it where it is. I’m overwhelmed with the support we’ve received and I will fight the trust’s decision.”
Aberuthven resident Ian Ross (48), also slammed the decision to close the shop and said: “Many of our older villagers would make the wee trip to have a coffee or even to have a chat.
“This is a very sad time for the village of Aberuthven as for many years we were without a shop and to just close the shop without discussion with the people of Aberuthven is upsetting and shameful.
“The thing that is annoying most people is that the decision wasn’t discussed. The shop is a lifeline for so many people.”
Shop owner Claire Dodds and supervisor Kelly McLaren with local residents
Perth and Kinross Council leader and councillor for Strathallan Murray Lyle, has also been left shocked at the decision.
He said: “I’m very disappointed it has got to this stage and I don’t quite understand the decision. It seems very draconian the way the trust has taken it.”
The Aberuthven Village Hall Trust failed to provide a comment by the time the PA went to press.