Keswick café owner Chinty Turnbull says she is within sight of the £100,000 target she needs to save her town centre building from the second home developers.
But a concerted last push is needed to raise the last £15,000.
Chinty, 55,who rents space in a building on St John’s Street, vowed to Buy Back Keswick, Brick By Brick earlier this year launched her campaign this week after her landlord announced he was putting the property up for sale.
As well as the café and eco-shop, the premises includes four first-floor flats – and Chinty fears it will be snapped up by developers keen to turn them into yet more lucrative holiday accommodation.
The campaign initially aimed to raise the £850,000 asking price for the building, and its four upstairs apartments, through individual donations.
But it soon attracted UK-wide media attention, a crowdfunding page, and also a partnership with the Keswick Community Housing Trust (KCHT), which has agreed to take over the campaign if it reaches the £100,000 mark.
Despite a power cut last week, Chinty – who was born and bred in Keswick – embarked on a series of fundraising events at the café.
“As usual the response was fantastic, with one person handing over a cheque for £11k,” she said. “We’ve still got a way to go, but we’re getting closer and closer – and not a moment too soon, as there were potential buyers looking round the property earlier this week.”
KCHT chairman Bill Bewley said: “By drawing attention to the lack of local housing for local people, Chinty has struck a nerve among the people of Keswick and beyond.
“I think it’s wonderful that we can just trust each other to do what is necessary to improve the situation.”
