WORK started this week on a new, purpose built community shop in the heart of Coaley. There has been a community shop in Coaley for 17 years, run from a portacabin that used to be a school classroom. This has done sterling service but is no longer fit for purpose. So villagers rallied round and started raising money. Brenda Board, chair of the community shop committee, said “We wanted to expand the services we offer local people to include space to sit and chat over a cup of coffee. The village responded magnificently to this challenge with dances, open gardens, vegetables grown for sale.