Community bands together to buy their local shop with help from AB4G programme

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The renamed the Bigton Community Shop was opened on Monday 16th April with some new range of products from Scoop and the Co operative shop in Lerwick in addition to the supply of vegetables, fresh fish and meat from local producers. The shop opening hours are to remain the same for the short term.

On April 14th a cheque and flowers were presented to Dunese Fullerton outgoing owner as the keys were handed over to newly appointed shop manager Caroline Smith. Over 20 volunteers worked over the weekend to prepare the shop for its first day of trading on Monday. In addition to the shop manager, the shop will be staffed by volunteers initially.

Mrs Fullerton will continue to act as sb post mistress to ensure the Post Office remains open whilst transfer arrangements are progressed as the Post Office is seen as an integral part of the shop and an important asset for the community.

Chairman of the co-operative, Bigton COmmunit Enterprise, Rick Nickerson said: "The committee are delighted that the project has reached another milestone in keeping both the shop and Post Office open. This could not have been achieved without the support of the community and assistance from agencies such as SHetland Islands Council, HIghland and Islands Enterprise through the Business Gateway, the Acquiring Business 4 Good programme of Social Firms Scotland, the Big Lottery and The Co-Operative Enterprise Hub. I would also like to acknowledge the role of Dunese in the smooth transition and in particular her patience on the time it has taken to recah this point."