Retirement of Hoxne postmistress galvanises group’s goal to take it on

A village postmistress has announced her retirement as a community group continues to fight to take on the business themselves.

Joan Retallack, who has been in charge of the Hoxne Shop and Post Office for around five years and lived in the village for nearly 30, broke the news at the beginning of the month that she would leave on September 15.

Villagers have formed The Hoxne Community Post Office Group trying to secure enough funds to take on the Low Street site.

Mike Barton, a village resident who is leading the campaign, said: “We always knew this day was coming, but it is a sad day for the village.

“We are as prepared as we can be. We are still in a position to be able to take over the Post Office contract and apply for government funding, if the fund reopens, so it is just a waiting game at the moment.”

The group were hoping to get the main source of money for the purchase from the Government through its Community Ownership Fund (COF), which is still on hold due to the new government coming in.

But a pledge campaign, set up by the group in March which ended in June, hit 80 per cent of its £200,000 target, with £160,590 generated from 549 pledges.

On top of this, two grants have been awarded for the project from Mid Suffolk council, a £30,000 grant from The Rural Communities Fund and £21,000 in the form of a Community Development Grant.

Also, on June 14, Mid Suffolk District Council approved plans for work inside the building put forward by the group which will see the post office and shop area of the Grade II listed site separated from the flat above it.

It is estimated that the whole project could cost £683,000 which includes an initial £412,000 to buy the building, around £140,000 for repair work on the roof and £15,316 on solar panels.

Mr Barton said they even have backing from Waveney Valley MP, Adrian Ramsay, after members of the group went to see him at one of his public surgeries.

At a recent PMQ in Parliament about the Community Ownership Fund’s possible return, it was said: “This government is committed to the communities sector and community ownership through empowering communities to own and run those local assets which mean the most to them.

“The English Devolution Bill will empower communities with a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces.”

Mr Barton said he was positive that some form of government funding would materialise and that the group would be applying for it as soon as they possibly could.

“Though it is not financially or practically feasible for us to take on the post office at the moment, we are still in with taking it over for the benefit of the village and the surrounding area.

“As soon as anything is announced we will let everyone know. If the Community Ownership Fund doesn't re-open then we will have a plan B to go for.”

The shop has been in the village for more than 150 years, with the building being built in 1830.

It has been in almost continuous use as a grocers and drapers shop since that time, becoming a general store and newsagents from 1959.