Ayr Academy pupils protest to save food shop

Nov 28 2008 by Stuart Wilson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

Pupils cook up a storm to save favourite shop

HUNDREDS of schoolkids have launched a campaign to save their favourite shop.

Council chiefs are trying to stop the popular Tuck Shop, opposite Ayr Academy, from selling hot food.

But that’s sparked war from desperate pupils who want to defend the shop they use every day.

And almost 700 have signed a petition to keep their lunchtime snacks flowing.

Shop manager Senga Stanulis admitted: “The kids have been great and are really getting behind us.

“When they read in the Ayrshire Post what was happening to us, they came running in to see what they could do to help.

“I lay on free toast and hot chocolate for them every morning and the kids love it.

“It’s always packed in here at lunchtime and all we want to do is run our business.”

But The Tuck Shop are being told to halt their hot food operation because of the need for better ventilation equipment in the kitchen.

It’s an argument they dispute after spending £40,000 on upgrading the shop since taking over earlier this year.

Senga revealed: “I think people fear we’ll be cooking in the shop all day long, but that’s just not true.

“We only want to open five days a week from 8am to 5pm and even then we’d be cooking for just a few hours a day.

“But if we’re not allowed to cook at all, we’ll have to open for seven days a week for longer hours and operate as a shop.”

The Tuck Shop’s bid to operate as a hot food takeaway has now gone to appeal.