Meeting to Discuss Closure of Shop & Post Office
Hello All,
Planning Application PD/2016/0085
A planning application has just been entered with Daventry on the above number to change the use of the High Street Stores to a dwelling by the owner. I understand this will not go to a planning committee meeting (but I stand to be corrected).
No discussion has been made with Graham as to the owner’s intentions and his position as shop keeper renting the premises, but it is clear the owner wants the shop shut.
The Parish Council about 3 years ago put in an application with Daventry to register the shop as a ‘Community Asset’ which should last until 2018, but as a precaution last meeting we decided to renew that status to protect it further and us and to hopefully keep it running.
The applicant has stated that the PO is due to close, that is not the case and it now has ‘Community Status’ so will not close so long as someone is there to run it. The applicant has also stated the shop makes no profit, stating this as a reason to close it. Whether it does or not is no business of his and is not a relevant reason to force closure.
I am calling an emergency planning committee meeting of the Parish Council to discuss this in public, If the PO were to close it would have very far reaching implications for everyone in Yelvertoft, and the shop as a convenience will also be missed by all those who use it.
I am suggesting that everyone in the village should object to Daventry about this application and not permit it to go ahead, and I ask for your support in this by writing to Daventry and/or supporting our meeting so that we understand what level of support we have from the residents of Yelvertoft.
If Graham should decide to leave the shop at any time, it is the Parish Council’s desire to keep it (or some form of shop) going, and I will suggest that should that happen we will try to find ways at least in the short term to maintain the service and the PO for the community benefit. This until such time as something permanent can be arranged.
Please come along to the Reading Room at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th January 2017 to give us your views.
Will you please let your friends and colleagues know about this, please be certain if the PO closes you will be trekking to Northampton to collect your parcels (as they have to in West Haddon).
Best regards
Geoff Holmes