PLANS for an innovative community shop and post office in Exbourne have taken two leaps forward with the approval of planning permission and funding to carry out a feasibility study.
Spokesman for the Exbourne Community Shop Committee Kit Ineson said last Tuesday's meeting of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee was 'a red letter day' for the project, which consists of creating a shop in the side of a bank opposite the Red Lion Inn.
'It's very exciting because the planning authority has accepted the underground shop in principal and we can go forward from here,' he said.
The next step will be a feasibility study to test the viability of a new shop which the South West Regional Development Agency has agreed to fund.
'Until we have all these things in place we cannot ask for major project funding,' added Mr Ineson.
The design of the shop and details of the scheme will be submitted at a later stage when the committee applies for full planning permission.
Architect Steve Blakeman explained to planners that a section of field adjacent to the road would be removed, the shop would be built and then the field would be put back to minimise the impact of the structure in the countryside.
In response to concerns about the removal of trees, Mr Blakeman said the construction would involve the relocation, if possible, of one red maple tree.
The previous post office and stores was closed last year due to it being uneconomic and sold after planning approval to convert it into a dwelling.
The Exbourne Community Shop Committee was born out of a public meeting where residents were unanimously in support of keeping these facilities in the village.
For the past few months a temporary post office has been running from the village hall, which is a satellite service of Okehampton Post Office.
Plans for the new building include a cafe and an adaptable floor space which can be used for sports like table tennis and a computer suite.
Cllr Christine Grills said she very much supported the officer's recommendation for approval: 'Living in a small village myself I know all too well the importance of trying to maintain facilities in a rural area,' she said.