Small Town Unites to Save Beloved Cobbler

Quick Smiles:

• Locals rallied with a 1,000-signature petition to protect their cobbler.
• The corporate chain withdrew its planning application after community action.
• Alan Macdonald, the cobbler, continues a heartfelt family legacy.

In Bishop Cleeve, Gloucestershire, residents joined forces to protect their cherished cobbler shop when a large shoe repair chain eyed the town for expansion.

The community’s online petition quickly gathered 1,000 signatures—including their local Parliament member—highlighting how much the village values small, independent businesses.

Tesco and Timpson had proposed opening a new service center offering shoe repairs and more, directly across from Alan Macdonald’s shop, a community staple for 30 years.

Driven by Alan’s concerns and the shop’s significance, local resident Gemma Surman led efforts urging Tesco to reconsider.

Plans for the corporate branch were ultimately dropped, a relief for Alan and his supporters.

“It is a weight off my mind. I don’t make a massive amount of money here,” Alan Macdonald shared. “Even a small amount of my income that disappears would make it very difficult to survive.”

His cobbler roots stretch back to his grandfather’s shop in Glasgow, with childhood memories helping his father as a boy.

After his dad’s shop closed, Alan revived the family craft in Bishop Cleeve beginning in 1995, embracing traditional service with a modern touch.

“I’ve become part of the community now and it’s a lovely place to live in. People are so supportive,” he said. “All I can say is thank you so so much, and it means that I can never retire!”

Stories like these remind us of the power of local unity and the difference it can make. Celebrate community spirit by sharing the good news!

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