by Thom Morris
tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A village store which closed down last year after 150 years is set to reopen in October.

Cobham Village Stores has been given new life after members of the community got together to run The Street shop as a Community Interest Company (CIC).

Gillian Burgess, who helped set up the CIC, said: “Reopening the shop will have an enormous impact on the village.

“Much of the appeal of Cobham rests on its sense of community which is the reason many people have moved here and remain here.

“As well as the usual services of a village store, we are committed to creating a hub in the village where people can bump into friends or chat and exchange news with neighbours, reinforcing our sense of belonging to a vibrant community.”

Before the Grade II listed shop closed, it was a vital lifeline for many residents, especially those without transport.

With fundraising events and grants secured from the Big Lottery fund, Gravesham Neighbourhood Forum and Kent County Council, cash was also secured from shareholders who invested £10.

Mrs Burgess added: “Visitors from other parts of Gravesham and the tourists that come to Cobham will also appreciate the shop, and we aim to bring something for them too.

“Our vision is to open a community shop that will not just be a place to buy bread and milk but one that will become an intrinsic part of our village life once again.”

There is now a job opportunity for a shop manager which will be a paid position. For those interested, visit www.cobhamshopgroup.co.uk or write to Cobham Community Stores, c/o 53 The Street, Cobham, DA12 3BX.