JOHN Wood was moved to tears as he closed down the Passfield post office counter for good on at midday on Wednesday morning. Despite months of campaigning by all his supporters to keep it open, he completed his final audits and logged out of the system by 5.30pm – and then faced the task of removing all Post Office equipment himself to be returned to the Post Office by the end of the month. But the shopkeeper is already planning for the future with new lines and hopefully a cash machine to meet his regulars' needs. Mr Wood told The Herald: "It was quite an emotional day for my wife and myself and together with customers we shed a few tears. "I did not think that I would be quite so upset about having to close the counter as I was on the day. "We did receive lots of cards wishing us good luck with the future of the store and it will mark a new beginning for us and all our customers." The Post Office won't release his current phone line until Friday February 22, when it becomes officially Mr Wood's and broadband can be added, which will enable an ATM machine machine and Payzone to be connected. He has been in talks with the Alliance and Leicester, which is looking at installing one of the bank's cash machines to enable members of the community access to moeny without having to travel to Liphook or Lindford. Mr Wood put the new banner up on the morning of February 13, which tells everyone that "The People's Store is open for business as usual" and has already added new strings to his bow by selling organic products, jams and fresh flowers arrangements from a local source. "We are keen to support local business as usual and are planning to add a whole range of locally- produced products, as well as Fair Trade items," said Mr. Wood. "Our fresh products like fruit and vegetables, as well as a deli counter will stock better quality items than those you can buy in the supermarket. "We are in talks with a local bakery to provide their goods on a daily basis and talking to organic milk producers to add their dairy products to the range." Mr Wood has provided East Hampshire District Council with three separate quotes for the costs to refit the Passfield store, and is waiting to hear how much his subsidy will be out of the total of £70,000 being made available to help the six stores hit by the closures. The stores are at Passfield, Upper Wield, Clare Gardens (Petersfield), East Meon, East Tisted and Dellfield/ Froxfield. EHDC will be conducting a survey on residents' and customers' needs and requirements in the car park of the Passfield store, on Wednesday February 20. The district council's initiative is now being matched by support from Hampshire County Council and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). A recent council residents' survey found a local shop was most beneficiial to a community according to 64 per cent – compared to just 30 per cent for a pub, 27 per cent a community centre and 20 per cent a church. Councillor Ken Moon called on villagers to support their local shops.
