A struggling Moray village shop could be forced to close – leaving 900 people in the surrounding area without local access to basic essentials.
The Garmouth and Kingston Amenities Association assumed control of the modest grocery store attached to the Garmouth Hotel on a voluntary basis last month.
The community group has a permit to run the venue until February, by which time it is hoped an owner can be found for what is Garmouth’s last remaining shop.
But after an initial surge in business when the villagers took it over in early November, trade has started to “dwindle”.
Chairman of the association, David Mackay, said it would be a “tragedy” if the shop had to close – but admitted that was a possibility unless people used it more often.
Mr Mackay said: “We are just trying to keep things ticking over by providing people with daily essentials in the hope that somebody will look at coming in and taking it on as a commercial prospect.
“With the right approach, it could be viable.
“But recently custom has been dwindling and if things don’t improve then there will have to be no shop in the village – and that would be a tragedy.
“There are more than 900 people in the boundary of Garmouth and Kingston, and they would all be without a local shop.
“We just want the community to support the place, because if they don’t they will lose it.”
The charity group aims only to break even while running the outlet, and its agreement to operate the business will end on Monday, February 8.
Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Sean Morton is calling for public talks to ensure the shop keeps its place in the village when that deal ends.
Mr Morton said: “The situation with the village shop is becoming quite serious.
“There are many ways that the community could save the shop and turn into something viable that really suits their needs.”
Mr Morton hopes to arrange a public meeting “as soon as possible” so that residents come together to discuss methods of safeguarding the store.