Keeping Community Alive

CLAVERHAM VILLAGE SHOP & POST OFFICE

What do you want?  What can we do to keep it going?

SAVE THE CLAVERHAM POST OFFICE

An excellent, turnout of over 100 residents attended the Village Hall on Friday 4th April to discuss the future of our Post Office.

Residents arranged the evening, and invited Kenneth Parsons, Chief Executive of the Rural Shops Alliance, and Dick Whittington of the not for profit organisation Community Action, based at Long Ashton.

Kenneth and Dick gave the audience an excellent overview of their experiences in setting up, and operating community shops and post offices, and the opportunities and pitfalls in operating such a venture. .

Dick could reveal that his contacts in the Post Office have confirmed that Claverham PO is not on the list for closure, and they will be prepared to remain committed to a Post Office in Claverham for some time. However, if no solution was found to providing the right location for the operation, they would probably take advantage of the situation and close the post office permanently. Indeed, if there is no post office, people will make other arrangements and then it will be difficult to draw that customer base back. It is critical that we act quickly, under the current management the post office closes on 14 April.

Liam Fox and his wife attended briefly and cautioned that there was no personal fortune to be made in running such an enterprise. Dr Fox had been to Long Ashton at a meeting regarding the proposed houses south of Bristol.

Suggestions for a location (subject to various approvals) included a generous offer from Revd Cathy Horder, of operating this from St. Barnabas Church; perhaps the use of the Village Hall, and someone suggested the Free Church may make their premises available to the Post Office. Broadcroft resident’s lounge would suit the senior citizens.

The next most critical need is a Sub Post Master/Mistress. For a short period it is likely that the post office in Yatton may support the operation, but ultimately Claverham would require a fully qualified Sub Post Master/Mistress. It takes about 3 months to be fully trained, all training be provided by the Post Office. Anyone interested in taking on this role should contact Jean Watson on 01934 838017 or email info@claverhamvillage.co.uk.

The evening continued with healthy debate about the opportunities for extending the operation beyond a post office, and potentially having an enterprise such as a co-operative or a community shop. However, for the immediate future the focus must be on retaining the Post Office.

Jean Watson took names and contact numbers for those interested in working actively towards maintaining the facility in the community, if you are also interested please ring 01934 838017 or email info@claverhamvillage.co.uk.