IT is hard to think of anything more British than a small post office in the countryside. Certainly there are enough of them scattered around the small settlements of East Lancashire's fields and valleys. But they could soon be a thing of the past and, if current trends are anything to go by, quicker than we think. Reporter PAUL SMITH investigates.

TO describe the sub post office as the bread and butter of the countryside is a double-edged statement.

For not only do they provide the traditional postal service, but they also perform several other functions that provide a lifeline for people in rural areas.

So, when news broke that these bastions of country life might not actually be around for much longer, the shockwaves spread far and wide.

It was in December that news filtered out that the Government was encouraging people claiming benefit to have their cash paid directly into their bank accounts. Immediately, sub postmasters all over East Lancashire predicted the demise of the small post office.

Since December, people have had time to try and digest the ramifications of what that would mean for rural areas and small towns of which there are many in East Lancashire.

Geoff West, postmaster at Chatburn, is in no doubt what would happen if the sub post offices disappeared.

He said: "These post offices represent the heart of the community. By that, I mean if a lady who normally comes in to my post office on a Monday does not appear, we are concerned and want to know why.

"We sell groceries, but if I lose one third of my business through losing benefits and pensions I would have to increase that side of things.

"And that would be difficult with less people coming here in the first place because they don't need to as much. "My own view is that the banks don't want to be taking over benefits and pensions and that, in the end, may be our biggest hope."

Mike Rigby, the East Lancashire branch secretary of the National Federation of Subpostmasters and postmaster at Barrowford, said: "None of us is sure if the Government has actually thought through the full implications of what is being proposed.

"If this goes ahead, post offices will close and even the bigger ones will be scaled down.

"It will be a ridiculous situation if people in remote parts of, for instance, the Ribble Valley had to go to a bank in Clitheroe or further afield, just to collect their pension."

Margaret Filkins, postmistress at Edenfield Sub Post Office in Rossendale has written to Tony Blair, William Hague and Charles Kennedy to express her fears for the future.

She said: "If this benefits change goes ahead, I will lose half my business and have no means of replacing it.

"Small towns and villages will be destroyed. If the post office goes the four other businesses in the centre of Edenfield will also struggle because nobody will be coming here any more and the place will die.

"I have written to the party leaders in the hope that the message will hit home about the seriousness of the situation."

There is some light on the horizon though - Wilpshire shop and post office received a grant from the Countryside and Community Council of Lancashire, and it has proved to be a lifeline.

The Countryside and Community Council has already held successful pilot schemes in Sabden, Blacko and Hoddlesden. The Wilpshire shop is now stocking basic foodstuffs as well as confectionery, newspapers and magazines and has even started a special home delivery service for elderly people in the area.

Owner Graham McNichol said: "We have been able to change things and turn them around dramatically and the whole community is thrilled.

"We started doing the basics and, as local people asked for them, we have added ranges.

"Our home delivery service means that we are always busy and, because we do the pensions, it means that we know who might need this service.

"The grant has been a great help. We couldn't have done without it and everyone around here is impressed with the improvements."

The Village Shop Development Scheme is funded by the Countryside and Community Council of Lancashire, Lancashire County Council, Pendle Council, Ribble Valley Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Enterprise plc.

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