The future of a community shop looks uncertain after bosses applied for an extension of their current temporary planning permission.

Gosfield Community Shop has applied for the extension ahead of plans to build a permanent home for the store.

The shop is located in a purpose-designed building at the playing field car park in Gosfield, next to the pavilion.

It was set up when the previous village shop – G and S Stores in Church Road – closed after almost 45 years of trading.

The Gosfield Community Shop is run by 45 volunteers and opens seven days a week.

They say it is an important service for residents, including the three schools, and provides a hub of activity for the village and the surrounding area as well as a fresh goods and newspapers.

Parish councillors have unanimously backed the building of a new community shop in the village. Chairman Bob Waters said: “I will be speaking on behalf of the parish council at the planning meeting next Tuesday in favour of an extension to the permission for the shop to remain until such time as a new building can be arranged.

“The planning officials who are opposed to the extension are going by the book in that it is a temporary permission and should not be extended.

“However, this is counter-balanced by the weight of public opinion in the village. The shop is well used and is in an ideal position on the playing field which has good parking and is in the centre of the village.

“In summer time it is a magnet for children and parents from the three schools in Gosfield and is close to the popular children’s play area.

“The parish council has always been solidly behind the shop which represents a successful community enterprise.

“An extension of another three years to the planning permission would give time for a more permanent solution to be found – probably an extension to the sports pavilion, although this has not been discussed by the parish council yet.

“It is difficult to see any other site in the village becoming available which has the convenience of the playing field.”

The future of the community shop will be decided by Braintree Council’s planning committee at its meeting on Tuesday at 7.15pm.