Carradale’s new shop welcomes first customers
Two years after opening a temporary shop in a cabin in the village hall car park, Carradale Community Trust (CCT) has welcomed the first customers into its new permanent store.
Carradale Community Shop and Post Office will be the only grocery store and post office in east Kintyre and, once fully established, will provide almost all the shopping essentials residents and visitors might require.
It has taken three years and a huge amount of effort by many dedicated people to accomplish the number one priority of the East Kintyre Local Development Plan.
CCT has recruited an experienced manager, east Kintyre resident Tracey Muscroft, to run the shop and eventually assist at the post office.
Tracey, who started last week, is enjoying her new role, but hopes customers can be patient and forgiving for the first few weeks while she and the volunteers get the systems, stock ordering and opening hours into place.
The trust wants to acknowledge all those who funded or offered advice over the years including: the Scottish Land Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, MOWI, Fern Community Funds, Abbeyfield Trust, East Kintyre Wind Farm Trust, The National Lottery and the Robertson Trust.
A spokesperson added: ‘A heartfelt thanks must go to CCT trustees and its dedicated members, all of whom are volunteers. Without them there would be no Carradale Community Shop and Post Office.’