A sorry sign of the times

Apr 25 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

RESIDENTS in Chester’s rural villages are often miles from the nearest shop, Post Office and with little access to public transport a Chronicle investigation has found.

Smaller villages including Duddon, Tilston, Oscroft, Shocklach, Huxley and Broxton have seen a decline in services.

A recent Government report revealed that towns and villages across England are losing basic services at “their fastest rate ever” and 45% of neighbourhoods are more geographically deprived.

Alison Macchi, Shocklach Parish Clerk said the village used to have a shop but it disappeared long before she arrived in the village.

She said: “Many people do have to rely on their cars to get to the shops.

“Our bus coverage has actually improved in the last year, we used to only have a bus twice-a-week but now we have a third extra service.”

Elderly residents in the smaller villages have been given free bus passes but often find they have little opportunity to use them.

A pensioner from Huxley said the village used to have many services including a post office, shop and garage but now they have all disappeared.

“I do drive, but also have to rely on my sons to get me what I need.”

She added: “I have lived here all my life, we all used to go down to the shop and stand in the doorway and talk to people. That just doesn’t happen any more.”

The village of Broxton will temporarily lose the Post Office at the end of May and lost it’s shop at the end of March.

“I think many of the elderly residents will find it very difficult without a Post Office and a shop.

“The shop was also a place the elderly could go to get out of the house and meet people. Hopefully they will find someone to take over the Post Office, but I think it could be difficult.”

Anthea Dodd, of The Green in Oscroft said: “We knew about the lack of services when we moved here, we knew there was no shop and accepted that when we decided to move.”

“There is a bus service that comes through the village but I think it is quite infrequent, the majority of people use their cars.”

Cheshire County Council have acknowledged that many rural areas are facing social deprivation as a result of a lack of services and that “pockets of need remain hidden”.

A Cheshire and Warrington Rural Partnership report states clearly that due to services becoming based in larger towns and cities, “everyday service needs are becoming increasingly compromised.”

Fil Prevc, Rural Development Manager at Cheshire County Council, said: “Smaller villages do struggle with public transport. There are a number of schemes that do help residents in rural areas particularly the elderly.

“The problem is it often isn’t viable for bus companies to run routes through these areas because there are not enough people to use them.

“The loss of services in rural areas is an on going problem, again many businesses struggle in those smaller villages. The loss of Post Offices in particular I know is very difficult for people.”

He added: “We have however seen a rise in businesses like farm shops in the more rural areas, and are trying to support those set up.”