VILLAGERS are fighting to save their shop. Homeowners and elderly people in Sheviock and Crafthole, near Torpoint, have been left isolated after the store shut in late January. The Post Office, which is in the same building, is still running but fears have been raised that it could close as well. It is a common problem for rural villages. Residents of Lanreath, near Looe, fought a two-and-a-half- year campaign to reopen their post office last year to avoid a six-mile round trip to the nearest shop in Pelynt. The Lanreath post office is run by around 20 volunteers and two members of staff, and Michael Snowling, who lives in Crafthole, would like to see a similar scheme adopted to solve their problem. 'We do need a shop as it keeps the village lively and sociably active,' said Mr Snowling. 'It is essential for elderly people as we have a limited transport facility into Torpoint. If we do not do something urgently we will lose the shop and maybe Post Office forever.' Michael has called on residents to attend a meeting in Crafthole Village Hall at 7.30pm on February 18, when the future of the store will be discussed. He is hoping that a number of villagers will come together and form a co-operative to run the store which has been offered, for rent, by the current owners.
