Convenience store hope for toilets

Fred Linskey at the loo he hopes to turn into a shop

SADDLEWORTH’S most isolated village could be flushed with success if a disused toilet block reopens as as shop.

Denshaw has been without a shop since the sub-post office and general store closed five years ago.

Enterprising businessman Fred Linskey has now submitted a planning application for a seven-days-a-week shop. If approved, Fred could be up and running before the end of summer, but wouldn’t sell alcohol nor tobacco.

And after informal meetings with residents, Mr Linskey, from Austerlands, has promised to respond to local needs when planning his product range.

He presented his scheme at a village community meeting and visited local homes to gauge opinion about the idea.

“The vast majority of locals were behind my idea,” said the 48-year-old father of three.