The new post office at the Tree Inn, Stratton was officially opened by North Cornwall MP, Dan Rogerson on Friday, March 27, writes Robyn Pengilly.
The post office has been brought back to Stratton by Bob and Emma Semple, the landlord and landlady of the historic Tree Inn. Bob explained that the former Lord's Court Post Office and Stores closed over 12 months ago due to personal and business circumstances of the owners, which had meant that residents had to travel to Bude or Kilkhampton for their post office needs.
Bob said: "After the shop/post office closed, my wife Emma and I waited for a period of time to see if they could find a buyer for the business. As no-one appeared interested in the business, Emma and I applied to the Post Office who had posted the vacancy for Stratton Post Office on the internet."
INTERVIEW
After an interview in April last year they received a letter of appointment in May. However, Bob said: "With the Post Office Network Change Programme we didn't know if we would open or not until that was completed. We had a letter in the autumn after the network change programme consultation had finished. It's taken a long time."
He added: "We decided to apply for the post office as we had the space required — ie no additional rent/mortgage to find, and it would provide our business with some diversity along with the benefit of restoring the post office services to Stratton.
"We also felt that if no-one applied for the Stratton vacancy, the Post Office may not have kept the vacancy open and the service would have been lost in Stratton."
Bob completed a training course at the main post office in Teignmouth to prepare him for the opening on March 9. The post office is now open between 9am and 1pm, Monday to Saturday.
At the official opening, Richard Butterworth from 'Pub is the Hub' said: "I've been delighted to help Bob and Emma with their project which they have financed themselves." 'Pub is the Hub' was set up in 2001 through the Rural Action Programme of Business in the Community by the Prince of Wales. It encourages breweries, pub owners, licensees and local communities to work together to help retain and enhance rural pubs.
Richard said the post office closure "could have been the first nail in the coffin" for Stratton, but thanks to Bob and Emma that had not been so. He added: "Here we are with a lovely hotel, a lovely restaurant, a cracking pub and now the best post office in Cornwall!"
Before cutting the ribbon, MP Dan Rogerson said the residents of Stratton had "been lost" without their post office and he praised Bob and Emma for all their hard work in bringing the "hub of the community" back to the town.
He added: "There are many other communities who have gone through the same thing but have not been as lucky as this." He said the return of Stratton Post Office showed what was possible and he was confident its success would be copied in other villages and towns.
Mr Rogerson said: "This is a new start for the Post Office, a new start for the Tree Inn and a new start for Stratton.
"The key to its success will be support from the community, so I hope everyone will come together to make good use of the post office, as well as enjoying some of the other products the Tree Inn offers!"
Following Mr Rogerson, Bob Semple said: "We're pleased to offer this service back in Stratton. We've had a gentle start but we hope more people will now know we're in action."
'LUCKY'
Cllr Nathan Bale added: "We are lucky to have such hard working and friendly people as Bob and Emma at the centre of our community. I will be using their services as often as possible and I'm sure everyone else will too."
Bob and Emma have decided to open the pub at 11am so it is nice and convenient to pick up your pension and a pint at the same time! They also plan to open a coffee shop during the post office opening hours in the same room and intend to sell locally-made cakes and pastries, a range of stationery, as well as Cornish gifts and souvenirs. Bob also intends to offer free Broadband internet access during post office opening hours.
At the official opening residents Tim and Veronica Ellis said they were "absolutely delighted" to have the post office back. They said the re-opening of the post office and the village store at Lords Court, along with plans for a coffee shop were all "fantastic news" for Stratton.
The Lords Court shop re-opened in November.