Central Devon MP Mel Stride paid a special visit to The Burrow Community Store & Cafe in Exbourne this week.
The Burrow is an imaginative building comprising an underground structure supported by rafters and beams, complete with a grass-topped 300mm concrete roof, where sheep sometimes graze.
After setting up a temporary volunteer-run pop-up shop in Exbourne Village Hall, locals began to work towards their goal of securing a purpose-built facility. By 2010 the project had raised over £185,000, and in 2011 construction of The Burrow began.
Today, store sells local produce, alongside a cafe and post office. It also offers a number of other services including dry cleaning and repeat prescription requests.
The Burrow is a huge part of the Exbourne community, but recent infrastructural problems mean that the store faces financial pressures. Damage to the roof of the Burrow means its kitchen is currently operating at only around 5% of its capacity.
Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “The Burrow is a hugely impressive community enterprise and is central to the village. It was good to discuss possible funding options and going forward I will definitely be supporting their funding bids.”
Nikki Fryer, shop manager, said: “We have a fantastic community asset which is only made possible with the help of the superb volunteers who run the shop, post office and café. We cannot afford to lose this.”
Craig Harris, the Burrow’s Chairman, said: “The cost of the roof is likely to exceed £75,000 and, whilst we are applying for grants, we also need to do local fundraising.”
If you would like to learn more about The Burrow, or get involved in their search for funding, please visit their website: https://theundergroundshop.weebly.com/
