URCHFONT'S community shop and post office, which will be mainly run by volunteers, could be open as early as November after receiving planning permission from Kennet councillors last Thursday.

Jon Masterson, chairman of the community shop committee, said it was the last major obstacle they had to overcome before work can begin to convert the disused garage at the Lamb Inn into the village's own retail centre.

Colin Stone, Urchfont's district councillor, told the meeting that the village had lost all its shops, including general stores, a butcher's shop, one pub and an undertaker's business, and was left with just a single pub.

Last year it lost its post office when Jill Fruen, the postmistress for 25 years, retired.

Coun Stone said: "A community shop and post office is something I consider a must."

Coun Philip Brown added: "I know the community shop committee has worked very hard to get this far and I congratulate them."

The regulatory committee gave unanimous backing to the scheme.

Mr Masterson was also able to tell the committee that the community shop has now mustered all the £95,000 funding it needs in grants from organisations like the Regional Development Agency, the Countryside Agency, Defra and the Community Fund South West.

Other smaller sums have come from private charities.

Some £60,000 of the total will go to converting the garage to a shop, landscaping and building a footpath on the approach to the shop, required by Wiltshire highways authority as a prerequisite to granting permission.

Fixture and fittings will come to another £11,000 and start-up costs, like professional fees, utility connections, stocking the shop, and covering six months' running expense, come to another £24,000.

Christine Dolan, the parish clerk, has already been awarded the franchise of the post office and the committee is currently interviewing people for the part-time post of shop manager. The shop assistants will all be volunteers and so far some 80 villagers have offered their services.

Mr Masterson is also approaching his goal of 250 investors, all putting in a minimum stake of £10 to finance the shop. It is hoped it will be able to start covering its costs after the first year of operation.

Mr Masterson told the Gazette: "We have succeeded in pushing the water uphill and now it is on the way down the other side.

"We are confident that, subject to no unexpected obstacles turning up in our path, we will be able to open the shop before the end of the year. Our November deadline is still a possibility."

The committee will now consider tenders for the work and Mr Masterson hopes development will begin at the start of September.

He said: "We've still got a long way to go, but at least we can see the finish line."