GOSFIELD Parish Councillor says the rejection for extended planning permission on the village shop is not the end of the road.

The community shop applied to extend its temporary planning permission ahead of plans to build a permanent home for the store.

The application was rejected at the Braintree Council planning meeting on Tuesday.

Bob Waters spoke representing the Parish Council with Isla Gill, and Jamie Davey representing the shop.

Volunteers from the community shop attended the meeting and spoke of the important part the shop played in the life of the village and how popular it was.

The planning committee accepted this and there was a good deal of praise for all the volunteers who run the shop.

However, it was advised by their officers that extending a temporary permission would set a dangerous precedent and they voted against by a small majority with a lot of abstentions.

Bob Waters, Gosfield Parish Council Chairman, said: "This is a set-back for the community shop which now will have to close, however plans are afoot to take on board some of the criticism by Braintree District Council and design and build a new permanent shop.

"This will not be easy and will be expensive, but the will and ambition is there, so it is not the end of the road yet."

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help raise funds towards the new village shop.

Fundraisers are looking to raise £80,000 through the support of local businesses and residents.

The page states: "To have a new and permanent village shop will be a huge asset to the village, acting as a central hub which supports the numerous community-driven activities we are recognised for, such as the annual village fete, the Gosfield in Bloom event and the various events held by our local schools.

"Now is the time to see this planning decision not as a setback but an opportunity to deliver something better, a shop that will continue to serve, inspire and support the close-knit, award-winning community spirit that all of us enjoy."

At the next Parish Council Meeting on Monday December 17 there will be an item on the agenda discussing the future of the Shop.