A HAMPSHIRE village store is the latest to receive funding from a Hampshire County Council initiative.
Civic chiefs hope to protect the future of everyday services and local stores across the county.
The shop and Post Office at Chilbolton, near Stockbridge, has been awarded £12,054 under the Village Community Grant Scheme.
The money will help modernise the shop’s equipment, provide additional retail space and improve accessibility.
The stores are in the centre of the village which has a population of around 1,100. The nearest other shop is in Stockbridge which is four miles away.
The grant scheme brings together funds from Hampshire County Council and the South East England Development Agency. A total of 14 grants have now been awarded to villages across Hampshire since it launched in 2008.
Owner Joanne Buist, said: “The additional space will be used to promote and expand our range of local and seasonal products.
“The Post Office and Shop are an important part of the community and receiving this funding helps us continue to improve these services for all.”
Councillor Jonathan Glen, county council executive member for economic development, , said: “Rural hamlets often have few amenities and thanks to this funding, the store can continue as an important local service and point of social contact for many residents, especially the elderly and those villagers who don’t drive and so rely on the store for their shopping.”
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