Friday August 8th 2025
Gordon's Little Shop in Berwickshire village
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The death knell has been sounded on the last remaining shop in a Berwickshire village despite concerns over the impact its loss will have on the community.
Gordon’s Little Shop in Main Street has provided a lifeline for villagers for decades, particularly through the Covid pandemic.
Now its owner, Jane Scott, who successfully ran the business for 18 years, has been granted planning approval from Scottish Borders Council for its change of use as annex accommodation to her own home.
The shop has been closed since 2023 after attempts to run the business by subsequent tenants failed.
A report submitted with the application stated: “Legislative, economic and cultural changes have further eroded the viability of the village shop.
“Increased electricity costs in particular make the success of a village shop here extremely unlikely as the customer base in this village is too small to cover overheads.
“Times change and there is good reason why the many shops of the early 1900s in Gordon no longer exist.”
One objector to the change of use stated: “I cannot understand why the whole village has not been petitioned, only the surrounding houses. It impacts the entire community, as well as the outlying one.
“The prospect of the shop becoming a community shop will obviously die with the change of use, should it go ahead.
“The energy of the village has sadly changed for the worse since the Little Shop closed and am sure it will only continue to do so if the situation is not turned around.”
Concerns were also addressed by Gordon and Westruther Community Council, a spokesperson for which stated: “It is with deep regret that the shop has been deemed to be not viable given as it is the only retail outlet in the village community.
“The Gordon village shop had become the key hub during the pandemic lockdown and Mrs Scott and others had organised home deliveries to the old and infirm as well as outlying customers.
“Since closure, the convenience of the shop has been sadly missed by loyal local customers and passing trade for food and beverages.”
In his report approving the change of use, Cameron Kirk, assistant SBC planning officer, says: “Although it is regrettable to lose the last surviving shop unit in Gordon, the supporting statement suitably demonstrates that several attempts have been made by the applicant/owner to lease the shop to third parties.
“However, each attempt has failed due to increasing costs, financial pressures and the current economic climate. It has been evidenced that it is no longer economically viable to sustain a shop in the settlement.”
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