A CASH injection will help beleagured post offices in and around Petersfield pick up the pieces. It comes in the wake of the Post Office's decision last week to close down branches or offer reduced services in Petersfield and the surrounding villages, which was met with dismay by shopkeepers and local people. With many village shops which offered a post office service fearing that losing that asset would put the rest of their business under threat, Hampshire County Council has this week pledged £200,000 insupport. Petersfield people were shocked last week when their protests against the proposed closure of the post office branch at Clare Gardens, in Durford Road, fell on deaf ears as the consultation process ended with the decision no-one wanted – the branch will close in April. Meanwhile, branches at East Meon, West Meon, Froxfield and East Tisted face an anxious wait to see whether they will be replaced with an outreach service. At a full meeting in Winchester, a motion was unanimously agreed by county councillors criticising the current proposals for post office closures in Hampshire and urging Government to look for new business opportunities that could allow them to prosper. Council leader Ken Thornber said: "It is the county council's priority to enhance quality of place and maximise well-being for all its residents, so it is important that we back the schemes that promise to achieve this." Durford Road postmaster Joe Patel said his shop at Clare Gardens would continue as a newsagents and convenience store, but they would have to make some changes following the closure of the post office within the shop on April 4. He said: "As the time goes by we will soon find out the effect the decision to close the post office will have on us. It will affect business as some customers will not come to visit the shop without a post office." The shop used to close at 1pm on Saturdays, but will now be open until 6pm in an attempt to compensate for any business lost through the closure of the post office. Mr Patel said he expected the funding would allow council officers to visit shops to offer options on how to continue running in a viable way. The possible demise of many post offices is likely to jeopardise other village shops, many of which depend on the income brought in by this service. Therefore, the first scheme, which will receive £100,000 funding, is to support village shops. The county council's economic development office will identify areas of need and make grants available to communities for their village shops. The Market Towns Partnership will be given £60,000 over the next two years to carry on its important work. The partnership is responsible for carrying out 'health checks' for towns and villages that identify ways of improving either the local economy or sense of community.
