Shopkeeper faces uncertain future
A SHOPKEEPER fears he may have to close for good because he has lost so much income after losing his post office salary.
Former Rippingale sub-postmaster Simon Deane has been wrangling with the Post Office for more than a year after the branch in his shop was earmarked for closure in December, 2007.
It was due to be replaced by a mobile outreach post office service.
On Wednesday that was opened from a counter in his shop, Rippingale Stores, in Middle Street.
It means the post office counter will still operate in Mr Deane's shop, between 9am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday. But it will be run by core sub-postmaster Andrew Jones, of Morton post office.
Mr Deane will lose his salary as sub-postmaster but will receive a commission from the counter.
The single dad, who has a nine-year-old daughter Pippa, said: "Losing the income from the post office has put me in an awful position.
"I am seriously struggling inside the shop because of the credit crunch and unless we see a marked increase in sales, we are in danger of closing.
"The whole thing has had a detrimental effect on my health."
Mr Deane expects the commission he receives to amount to about a quarter of his sub-postmaster salary.
He said: "That coupled with the obvious impact of the current economic climate in the shop has put the future of the shop in danger.
"People in my position are being told by the Post Office that we should be grateful to have the counter in the shop to bring customers in but it won't generate the same income for me."
Mr Deane along with a group of campaigners, known as the Friends of Rippingale Post Office, have met senior management at Post Office Ltd over the last year in a last bid to save the branch.
Mr Deane said: "I would like to pass on my thanks to everyone, including the group, for being so supportive.
"It has not just been the support in trying to keep the post office but also the personal support."
A spokesman for Post Office said customers at Rippingale would not notice a change in services or how the branch operates.
The branch at Rippingale was listed among the first wave of closures, as part of a nationwide cull of 2,500 post offices.
Castle Bytham was replaced by a mobile service and South Witham's services are now provided at a supermarket.
Branches in Uffington, Collyweston, Exton, Whissendine and Stirling Road, Stamford, were all permanently closed.
Campaigners managed to secure the future of Ryhall Road post office in Stamford, which was also threatened with closure.
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