Rural Shops & Post Offices

NEWSFLASH ON POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN DEVON!!!

Here is a list of 45 complete complete closures and 38 closures and replacement by part-time mobile services in Devon:

45 POST OFFICES FOR COMPLETE CLOSURE:

Avonwick, The Shop, Avonwick, South Brent TQ10 9LZ

Barbrook, Lynton EX35 6PD

Beaumont Road, 124 Beaumont Road, Plymouth PL4 9EB

Bishops Tawton, East Street, Bishops Tawton, Barnstaple EX32 0DQ

Buckland Monachorum (mobile service), Outside Village Hall, Buckland Monachorum,Yelverton PL20 7EQ

Chelston, 24 Walnut Road, Torquay TQ2 6HS

Clyst St George, The Village Hall, Clyst St George, Exeter EX3 0RE

Collaton St Mary, 369 Totnes Road, Paignton TQ4 7DE

East Of The Water, Barnstaple Street., Bideford EX39 4AE

Ermington, The Square, Ermington, Ivybridge PL21 9LP

Exeter Road, Crediton EX17 3BH

Ford Street, 14 Ford Street, Tavistock PL19 8DZ

Foxhayes, 123 Exwick Road, Exwick Exeter EX4 2BH

Goodleigh, Barnstaple EX32 7LU

Greenway Lane, 30 Greenway Lane, Budleigh Salterton EX9 6SG

Hennock, The Post Office, Newton Abbot TQ13 9PZ

High Street, 101 High Street, Totnes TQ9 5PF

Holcombe, Hollandia, Holcombe Road, Dawlish EX7 0LH

Kellaton, Kingsbridge TQ7 2ES

Lynmouth (Temporarily closed), Lynmouth Street, Lynton EX35 6EH

Millwey Rise, 22-23 First Avenue, Axminster EX13 5EX

Milton Combe (mobile service), Outside the Pub, Milton Combe, Yelverton PL20 6HP

Offwell, The Village Shop & PO, The Recreation Ground, Offwell, Honiton EX14 9SB

Pennycomequick, 9 Stuart Road, Plymouth PL3 4EB

Peter Tavy (mobile service), Bus Shelter, Peter Tavy, Tavistock PL19 9NN

Pinhoe Road, 171 Pinhoe Road, Exeter EX4 7HZ

Plympton, St Maurice Brook Stores, 19 St Maurice Road, Plympton St Maurice, Plymouth PL7 1NR

Portland Street, Portland Street, Ilfracombe EX34 9NN

Queen St, 37-39 Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3SR

Sampford Courtenay, Okehampton EX20 2SY

Seaside, Combe Martin, Ilfracombe EX34 0DQ

St Andrews Road, 42 St Andrews Road, Exmouth EX8 1AR

St Levan Valley, 43 Ryder Road, Plymouth PL2 1JA

Stoke In Teignhead, (Temporarily closed), Newton Abbot TQ12 4QA

Stone Barton (Temporarily closed), 1B Seymour Road, Plympton, Plymouth PL7 4NX

Sutcombe, 4 Square Park, Holsworthy EX22 7PS

The Harbour, 41 Roundham Road, Paignton TQ4 6DS

Tipton St John, Sidmouth EX10 0AA

Torre, 298 Union Street, Torquay TQ2 5QZ

Townstal, 21 Church Road, Dartmouth TQ6 9HQ

Tweenaway (Temporarily closed), 238 Totnes Road, Paignton TQ4 7HB

Underwood, 46 Market Road, Plymouth PL7 1QW

Union Road (Temporarily closed), 38 Victoria Street, Exeter EX4 6JQ

West Charleton, West Charleton, Kingsbridge TQ7 2AJ

West Hoe, 24 Walker Terrace, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3BN

38 POST OFFICES FOR CLOSURE & REPACEMENT BY A PART-TIME MOBILE SERVICE:

Ashreigney, 1 Green Hedges, Ashreigney, Chulmleigh EX18 7LT

Ashwater, Beaworthy EX21 5EG

Bishops Nympton., South Molton EX36 4PQ

Blackawton, Vicarage Road, Blackawton, Totnes TQ9 7AY

Bow (Temporarily closed), Spar Shop, Preston House, Bow, Crediton EX17 6EZ

Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple EX31 4TJ

Bridestowe, Okehampton EX20 4EG

Bridgerule, Holsworthy EX22 7ER

Buckland Brewer, Bideford EX39 5LW

Burrington, London House, Burrington, Umberleigh EX37 9JG

Cheriton Fitzpaine, Crediton EX17 4JA

Chillaton, Lifton PL16 0HR

Chittlehamholt, Umberleigh EX37 9NT

Clearbrook (mobile service), Outside Village Hall, Clearbrook , Yelverton PL20 6JD

Clovelly, 23 High Street, Clovelly, Bideford EX39 5TB

Copplestone, Crediton EX17 5NJ

Dittisham, Riverside Road, Dittisham, Dartmouth TQ6 0HS

Halberton, 24 High Street, Halberton, Tiverton EX16 7AA

Kennerleigh, The Post Office, Crediton EX17 4RS

Lamerton (mobile service), 2 stopping points in Lamerton, Tavistock PL19

Langtree, Fore Street, Langtree, Torrington EX38 8NG

Lewdown, The Stores, Lewdown, Okehampton EX20 4DQ

Lustleigh, Newton Abbot TQ13 9TA

Meeth, Okehampton EX20 3EP

Milton Abbot, Fore Street, Milton Abbot, Tavistock PL19 0PA

Newton St Cyres, 6 The Village, Newton St Cyres, Exeter EX5 5BU

Northlew, Post Office Stores, Northlew, Okehampton EX20 3PB

Oakford, Tiverton EX16 9EW

Plymtree, Cullompton EX15 2JU

Postbridge, The Post Office, Yelverton PL20 6TH

Rackenford, Post Office & Village Shop, Rackenford, Tiverton EX16 8DT

Rattery, South Brent TQ10 9LD

Shebbear, Southview, Shebbear, Beaworthy EX21 5RU

St Giles On The Heath, Gridley Corner, St Giles on the Heath, Launceston PL15 9SA

West Buckland, Barnstaple EX32 0SF

West Down, Ilfracombe EX34 8NF

Widecombe In The Moor, Newton Abbot TQ13 7TB

Yeoford, Station Road, Yeoford, Crediton EX17 5HU

If you wish to see the Post Office Ltd Devon Network Change Programme Click Here. To see the Branch Access Reports used in total branch closures Click Here . To see the Branch Access Reports used in branch closures and replacement with Outreach services Click Here .

MAKING REPRESENTATIONS AGAINST CLOSURES

If you wish to make representations on a PO closure, see the relevant contact information below. It may be useful to contact John Baverstock of Postwatch, in the first instance, for advice (see contact details below). Postwatch is the consumer watchdog for the postal services. If you wish a representative of Postwatch to attend an action and protest meeting, it is best to make the approach via your District or County Councillor or MP.

National Consultation Team
Post Office Ltd
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM (no stamp is required)
Telephone: 08457 22 33 44

Or via their webpage: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange .

You can contact national Postwatch           or         Devon Postwatch Panel

08456 013265 or 028 9027 934                                John Baverstock (Chair)
email: info@postwatch.co.uk                                   01548 580041

Website: www.postwatch.co.uk                               Email: Bavers1@btinternet.com

For ideas about campaigning against the closure of your Post Office [ Click Here ]

As a Rural Community Council we recognise the importance of village shops and post offices in a rural community and the vital role they play, providing invaluable services to members of the community who would otherwise have to travel a great distance to access similar facilities,in particular, those people who find travelling difficult.

Rural Shops Alliance

CCD is an associate member of the Rural Shops Alliance. The RSA is the only national trade association that operates exclusively for and on behalf of the owners of independent village shops and now represents over 7,200 village shops across England.

The RSA’s aim is to support and inform owners of village shops and to encourage rural retailers to become more proactive and professional in operating their businesses. If a village shop can optimise its business potential then this significantly improves the chances of long-term viability, for the benefit of the whole community.

The RSA lobbies on a range of issues, largely to combat the ever-increasing burden of red tape upon village shops.The RSA does more than simply talk about issues. It is able to provide real solutions ‘out in the field’ to owners of village shops. Through this organisation 361 rural retailers in Devon receive:

• 'Village Retailer' - a quarterly publication.
• Workshops (retailers, manufacturers & suppliers).
• Training courses, followed by onsite visits by specialist retail advisers.
• Village Shops web page.
• Free retail advice from RSA (incl. Help-line).
• Exclusive RSA deals and promotions.
• Networking opportunities.

To read the RSA Update newsletter for April 2008 [ Click Here ]. To see the latest RSA News Release [ Click Here ]

Post Office Closures

To see the latest RSA update on Post Office closures [ Click Here }

For detailed information on the services available from the Rural Shops Alliance, visit their website at:[ www.rural-shops-alliance.co.uk ]

For information for setting up an 'Alernative Post Office' in the face of Post Office Closure see: http://www.norfolkrcc.org.uk/wiki/index.php/Alternative_Post_Office

Promoting Local Food

CCD recognises the value of other organisations such as Devon Food Links who are committed to supporting the local food sector. To find sources of local food, near to you, visit the Devon Food Links website at: [ www.devonfoodlinks.org.uk ]

Visit Natural England's Eat The View website. Sustainable land management systems can provide quality products whilst maintaining environmental quality and the diversity of the countryside.  Products processed and marketed locally can provide improved income and employment opportunities, help to strengthen the links between land managers and the local community, and reduce the unnecessary transportation of food and other goods.  Consumers can help to secure and enhance the countryside by choosing these products.  The more that are bought, the stronger the market becomes and the more economically viable sustainable land management systems become. For news, events & stories from local producers visit [ Eat the View ].

The promotion of local food and community-owned shops seem to have a natural affinity. To see CCD's Ten Point Action Plan to Sell More Local Food  [ Click here ]

Community-owned Shops

Many rural communities are finding that the only sure way to secure their Post Office and/or village shop, for the long term, is to form a community-owned enterprise to take over their ownship and operation. For information specifically about community-owned shops, see the ViRSA website at http://www.virsa.org/.

In addition Oxfordshire Rural Community Council has produced a toolkit specifically for Community Shops and Post Offices. To view, click on: How2 Create a Community Shop and Post Office (ORCC)

Post Offices

Postwatch

CCD is represented on the Devon panel of Postwatch, the consumer watchdog for Royal Mail and Post Office Counters. Postwatch takes up consumer concerns with Royal Mail about all aspects of the postal service but, particularly, the quality, regularity and timing of postal collections and deliveries and post office closures.

Closure of Postwatch Update (Oct 2007)

Postwatch is to be discontinued. Its role, and that of several other consumer watchdogs, is being taken over by the newly-formed National Consumer Council (NCC). It is unfortunate that a watchdog with such local reach as Postwatch is being lost. Only time will tell if the NCC will be as effective both nationally and at the local level.

Originally the closure of Postwatch was to take place in February 2007. It now looks as though Postwatch will continue to October 2007 because of issues connected with the Post Office closure programme.

ACRE Position Paper on Post Office Closures

To read ACRE's position paper on post office closures [ Click Here ]

To read the Rural Shops Alliance update on PO closures [ Click Here ]

For more information on any of the above topics, please contact: Dawn Eckhart, Social Enterprise Worker Tel: 01392 383681 or e-mail: dawn@devonrcc.org.uk .