PLANNING permission has been granted for the village shop in West Buckland to be converted into a one-bedroom flat.

The shop, on the corner of Dyers Close and Silver Street, has been owned for the past three years by Julie Bartram and already has a flat in the upstairs part of the building.

Miss Bartram said despite trying everything possible to improve trade over the three years, takings had been steadily falling in recent months and she had no option but to close it.

Planning officer Karen Wray said: “The loss of a local village store presents quite a significant loss to the local community providing it is being properly utilised.

“There are no other shops like this in the immediate vicinity and there is a requirement in the core strategy to ensure any loss does not result in damage to the vitality or viability of a settlement or increase car travel by local residents, unless it can be independently proven to be unviable for re-use for local service provision.”

Mrs Wray said in this instance, the fact the shop was no longer economically viable and that it could not be put to an alternative community use meant planning consent could be granted.

West Buckland Parish Council clerk Jill Larcombe said parish councillors appreciated the effort Miss Bartram had put into running and trying to retain the village shop, and therefore did not object to the change of use planning application.

Somerset county councillor John Thorne said: “The loss of the shop is understandable in the circumstances, but nevertheless it is still very sad for the local community.

“It is a shame that a community shop idea cold not be promoted in the same way as happened a few years ago in Churchinford, where it is now going from strength to strength.”