The post office and store the village is trying to save.
BONCHURCH residents have hatched a plan to save their post office and store — to club together and buy it themselves.
The idea was one of several suggestions put forward at a packed public meeting, held at the village hall on Tuesday by Bonchurch Community Association, to decide what action to take when postmistress Brenda Jackson retires at the end of October.
Residents agreed they would prefer the post office to remain at its current location and considered the possibility of purchasing the entire property — currently on the market for £360,000 — as a community group.
Another suggestion was to negotiate renting the shop front from Mrs Jackson, or to provide post office facilities at the village hall.
The owners of Wroxall Post Office, Mick and Rosemary Clayton, offered to help by running an outreach service in Bonchurch.
Philippa Daley, of the Isle of Wight Rural Community Council, said the Post Office was committed to maintaining a service in the village, provided a new postmaster or mistress could be appointed. She warned it would be a complicated undertaking for the community to run the post office and store profitably.
"No-one has come forward to buy the shop and post office and time is of the essence. The Post Office would need a firm offer in place when Brenda retires in five weeks," said Brian Lucas, community association vice-chairman and Ventnor town councillor.
"Everyone wants to keep it open, it’s a valuable community resource, but who is willing to give their time and money?"
A follow-up meeting will be held in the near future.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk