| County | Hampshire, South East |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SP11 7AZ |
| Opened | 2002 |
| Post Office | Yes |
| Management | Volunteer |
| Legal | ViRSA IPS model rules |
| Premises | New build |
View a map of where to find us
http://www.little-ann.co.uk/postoffice/update.htm and http://www.little-ann.co.uk/postoffice.htm
Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association were highly commended in the Countryside Alliance Best Rural Retailer Competition in the Best Village Shop/Post Office category.
Until November 1998, Abbotts Ann had a commercially run village shop and Post Office. When the shop failed as a business and was sold, it was decided to approach the residents with the suggestion, to retain the facility in the village. The new owners allowed part of the original shop to remain so that the Post Office Counter and Shop could remain on a temporary basis until an alternative sight could be found. It was most important not to loose the contract with the Post Office. Our first port of call was to ViRSA (Village Retail Services Association) for guidance.
Trade continued from the front room 10ft sq for nearly 3 years with the assistance of 26 volunteers. Within a very short time the turnover was increasing to very satisfactory levels. Proving that there was hope for the future of the shop.
A questionnaire went out to every household to get a response on the idea of keeping and supporting a new facility. Each reply was monitored and logged. A new site had to be found. 4 sites were thoroughly investigated and the findings were reported back to the villagers in a meeting at the village hall, which David Fisher (ViRSA) and Martin Harvey (POL) attended. The attendance and response was overwhelming.
In April 1999 the residents of Abbotts Ann formed The Abbotts Ann Village Shop Association Ltd, (a non profit making organisation registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act No 28922R), whose main objective is to provide and retain a village shop & Post Office for the benefit of the villages and surrounding area, as a community venture. The concept was supported by both county and borough councils, and was in line with Government policy to retain rural facilities.
In 2001/02 the Government pledged to retain rural Post Offices and a Capital Subsidy Grant was implemented to help finance the halt of Post Office closures.
The total project cost was approx £300,000. This included the purchase of suitable land, the building of a new Shop and Post Office in keeping with the conservation area in which it is situated, the shop fitting, installation of the Post Office Counter and the stock. Based on the best projections available it was clear, initially, that our borrowing requirement would be approximately £141,000 in order to construct the village shop as desired even after we have sold off the rear building plot. By incorporating a flat above the shop, a rental from the flat would service a £70,000 mortgage over 25years, but this still left £71,000 to find. Fundraising became a major issue.
We began by inviting residents to become members of the Association for a fee of £10.00. In return a membership certificate was issued, this was a non-refundable sum but entitled members to vote at the AGM on various issues. We have in access of 300 members on the register. Next we approached Test Valley Borough Council Leisure Department, who awarded us £5000 to be matched by both our Parish Council and Hampshire County Council. This gave us £15,000. With donations, interest free loans, fundraising and debentures we were able to raise sufficient funds to purchase our site. This set the ball rolling on a 4-year project.
Full article available from http://www.little-ann.co.uk/postoffice/update.htm
Further information also available from http://www.little-ann.co.uk/postoffice.htm
01264 710230