Row over village shopkeeper snub

by Jonathan Morris BBC News South West

Tim Barrett was told he would not get a trial in the new shop

A row has broken out in a south Devon village after its shopkeeper was ordered to quit.

Aveton Gifford's new £100,000 village shop is due to open in August.

But local man Tim Barrett, 31, who has run a temporary shop in a converted container for the past four years, has been told he does not have the skills.

The village shop committee, which made the decision to hire a Kent businessman instead, now faces the possibility of being replaced by villagers.

'Not bright'

The current shop and post office is in a green container dubbed the "Tin Shop", in the village centre.

The new shop is a few yards away, yet there is a gulf over who should run it.

Village postman Robert Ford told BBC News: "I think the committee have done a brilliant job in raising the money.

"I just think they've made a very poor decision in not giving Tim a chance.

"I would say 80-85% of the village are behind Tim."

An interview panel found Mr Barrett "to be very nervous and lacking in confidence", he "didn't seem bright" and his lack of business skills were said to be "scary".

Yet villagers are upset that someone who has been at the centre of village life has not been given a chance in the new shop.

The new shop is due to open in August

Two assessors said in a report last year that he could be given a chance in the new shop if his skills improved.

A six-month period of training followed, but the shop committee said Mr Barrett had shown "very little improvement".

Father-of-one Mr Barrett, who is taking legal advice, has declined to comment.

Burda Gage, chairman of the shop committee, said: "It caused huge anguish for us.

"It's not that we don't like Tim, but it was action we had to take.

"We are not a charity and we have to find well over £400 a month, which is the rent, to cover our financial commitments."

The shop committee is now going to hold a meeting of the shop's shareholders at which the committee could be replaced and Mr Barrett given a trial as shopkeeper.

Mrs Gage said: "It's hugely sad that the community is so divided.

"I hope that they understand why we had to do what we have."

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