Villagers band together to save Dobcross local store and post office

Villagers reopened and took  over ownership  of Dobcross  local store and Post Office as a community co-operative at the weekend.

And delighted customers arrived early for the first day of trading on Saturday at the seven-day a week facility on Woods Lane, Dobcross.

One early bird customer said: ”It’s going to continue as a great community asset. The post office will be invaluable as there are no banks in Saddleworth and it will save people having to go to Oldham to bank.”

The villagers got together to buy the lease, and from approximately 800 homes, more than  £60,000 was raised to secure the future of the village store.

The aim of the not-for-profit venture is, wherever possible, to use local suppliers - with fresh milk from cows grazed within a mile of the store, honey from hives across the road and fresh pies, bread and cakes from a nearby bakery.

A team of dedicated  volunteers are helping  with jobs in store, from serving behind the counter, shelf stacking and cash and carry runs, to cleaning and DIY.

Nathan Beckwith is chair of the Dobcross Village Society (DVS), running the venture on behalf of the village. He said  :”There has been a very warm-hearted response and we are looking forward to  greeting everyone, including those with their oet dogs, with a smile.”

The stores management committee is made up  of local business owners, villagers of all ages, retired people with a wide variety of skills in finance, legal, communications, HR, grants and company secretary roles.

Nathan added: "It may only be a little store in a little village, but we have big ideas.

“It’s really simple, there is strength in community, and we want local people to support us and keep a vibrant and viable store at the heart of Dobcross.

"It is a members co-operative in the truest form, backed by generous support from villagers, and owned and run by the members."

There has been a village store on the site since the mid 19th century.

If it had closed down the village would have been without a single remaining shop and a lifeline for people unable to travel elsewhere would have been lost.

In embracing its heritage, the store is moving forward with a website and social media pages informing potential customers of new fresh-in produce.

The aim is to boost business and attract more shoppers with longer opening hours, a loyalty scheme, a delivery service and new ventures such as coffee mornings and a social community space.

“It is vital for any thriving village to have a Post Office, with many microbusinesses now operating from home postal services are an essential part of this economic shift," Nathan told the Oldham Chronicle.

“Moving forward it will be a big difference in how the store and Post Office will be run and behind the scenes there has been a seismic shift to embrace and enshrine co-operative principles, with the ultimate aim of reinvesting in our village life and providing a community space for villagers to pop in for a chat and coffee - a lovely part of anyone’s day.”