CHERITON Fitzpaine’s current shop and Post Office will cease trading on December 21.

To a rural community like Cheriton Fitzpaine, the closure is life-changing for many local residents.

In August 2016 on hearing of the planned retirement of shop owners Stella and Roy Swain a small group of inhabitants started the process of providing a replacement shop and Post Office for the village and surrounding areas.

The secretary of Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop Project, Elly Babbage, explained: “We are a rural community with poor public transport and a 10 or 15 mile-round trip to the nearest towns of Crediton and Tiverton and to some extent we need to be self-sufficient.

“There are approximately 640 inhabitants in the parish, most of whom live around the main street but some come in from the outlying areas to collect daily newspapers and to conduct business.

“There are many elderly inhabitants who rely heavily upon the shop and Post Office for their money, their provisions, but also for socialising. For some, a trip to the shop is the only contact they have with others.”

She added: “We started the process of planning for a replacement in September with a public meeting where we heard about the Sandford and Kennerleigh Community shops.

“There was enough support to enable us to form a Working Party and construct and distribute a questionnaire to find out what people really wanted.

“An amazing 257 questionnaires were returned and analysed, and with this information we are moving forward to a public meeting on Monday, November 21, at which we will be taking pledges of donations and shares, as well as signing people up for practical support.

“Our Community shop will aim to be the hub of the community and, led by community requests, we will respond to demand and sell fresh affordable food, bakery goods, dairy, confectionery and all the necessary staples.

“A total of 79 per cent of respondents requested newspapers and stationery. In the future we hope to include coffee and cakes and a welcome place to stop and socialise.

“Upwards of 50 villagers have said that they will help in the running of the shop when it is established. The premises will be fully accessible to those with limited mobility and we hope that we can also deliver to the housebound.

“One of our aims has already been achieved, much to the relief of our retired population, as we have managed to secure the promise of a ’hosted’ Post Office each week.

“Please come to our Cheriton Fitzpaine Community Shop meeting on November 21 at 7.30pm in St Matthew’s Church to hear our story and take an active part in our future plans.”

Alan Quick