The information on this web page has been adapted from a factsheet provided by Durham Rural Community Council.
Why are Local Shops and Services Important?
It is important that people can access a range of facilities, services and activities within their village or community. The village shop, post office and public house are vital local services, especially for people who do not have a car or cannot access public transport.
In addition to the service they provide, the village shop, post office and public house provide local employment and help to retain money within the local economy, they provide a focal point within the community for providing and exchanging information and reduce our dependence on the motor car and other forms of transport. Retaining local services is vital to building sustainable communities.
In County Durham 55% of the parishes do not have a village shop, 44% do not have a post office and 28% do not have a public house. (Source : Rural Development Commission's Rural Services Survey 1997). Many rural communities have lost these essential services in recent years and others are under threat. The message is clear - "Use them, or lose them!"
How Can Local Shops and Services be Retained?
A number of things can be done to ensure that local services are viable by encouraging their use. These include:
- Encourage people to shop locally.
- Encourage the use of the full range of services on offer.
- Encourage the shop or post office to extend the range and type of services available.
- In the case of the post office encourage community groups, the Parish Council and local traders to hold a bank account where transactions can be conducted through the post office.
- Encourage the promotion of services in the local community newspaper or parish or church newsletters.
- Develop a rural services 'loyalty scheme' or similar activity.
What Can be Done When a Local Service is Put Up For Sale or is Under Threat of Closure?
When a local service is under threat it is essential that action is taken quickly. Once a service closes it is more difficult to get it back again. The following actions may be appropriate:
- If the present service closes and it is not possible to continue it straight away it may be possible to run a temporary service from other premises or a community building. This may be a particular necessity when the service in question is the post office as this will enable pensions and benefits to continue to be paid locally.
- If no-one comes forward to take over a service another local business may be prepared to take it on. For example some pubs also house the local post office and post offices often also act as the local shop. In some cases someone's house may be used for the shop or post office by converting part of a front room or adjacent garage.
- In some cases the best way to retain or develop local services has been for a community group to take on the responsibility. Community-run shops, post offices and public houses exist. These often make use of community buildings such as the village hall or the church hall.
Organisations That Can Help
Durham Rural Community Council
Park House
Station Road
Lanchester
County Durham
DH7 OEX
Tel: 01207 529 621
Fax: 01207 529 619
Email
[email protected]
DRCC can offer advice and support to village shops, post offices and public houses and help sign-post to appropriate organisations. Advice is also given to community businesses.
Village Retain Services Association (ViRSA)
Halstock
Yeovil
Somerset
BA22 9QY
ViRSA can help to rescue and revive village shops and post offices.
Countryside Agency
North East Regional Offices
Cross House
Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4XX
Tel: 0191 269 1600
The Countryside Agency offer advice and training for village shops and post offices. They also provide grant-aid through the Village Shop Development Scheme within participating district council areas.
Post Office Counters Ltd. Tel: 01325 381 637.
The Retail Network Manager assists sub post-offices.
National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.Tel: 01388 527 969.
Will help to assess the current situation with regards to post offices under threat of closure.
Resources
The following resources are available from:
Countryside Agency Postal Sales
PO Box 124
Walgrave
Northampton
NN6 9TL
Tel: 01604 781 848
- Village Shops Mean Business. Countryside Agency. Free publication.
- Shops in Rural England - help and advice available. Countryside Agency. Free leaflet.
- A Guide to Village Shop-keeping. Countryside Agency. There is a charge for this publication.
- A Village Shop. Countryside Agency - There is a charge for this publication.
- Village Shops - a report on community action. Countryside Agency. There is a charge for this publication.
Retaining Rural Services - Examples
The Kirk Inn, Romaldkirk, Teesdale, County Durham
The post office in Romaldkirk was under threat of closure and so the local public house took over the service to ensure that the post office was not lost from the village.
Fir Tree, Wear Valley, County Durham
The post office is based in the petrol station.
Redmire, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire
The village of Redmire lost its post office and shop. ViRSA helped Redmire residents to form a committee to run their own community shop. A garage was secured for a peppercorn rent and the shop and post office are being run from here by volunteers. The shop is open at times to suit the villagers and opening is extended in the summer to cater for visitors. The whole process has breathed new life back into the village.
High Etherley Village Shop, Wear Valley, County Durham
This shop has taken part in the pilot SAVE (Sainsbury's Assisting Village Enterprise) Scheme. This scheme was set up jointly by ViRSA and Sainsbury's to enable local village shop keepers to stock Sainsbury's products. The aim of the scheme is to increase the range of products available in the village shop and the number of customers.
Cockfield Community Centre, Teesdale, County Durham
The Community Centre at Cockfield have helped to retain local services by delivery of a range of services from this one venue. It offers a permanent community Police Office, daily subsidised meals for elderly residents, a Meals On Wheels service, multi-media/IT facilities, a part-time veterinary surgery, an outreach chiropodist, prescription collection point as well as Tea Dances and a host of other entertainment.
