A POST Office and store in a village near Malvern will close down this weekend after falling victim to the power of supermarkets.
Cradley Post Office and Stores shuts down on Sunday with its owner blaming cuts to its postal services and a change in shopping habits.
There has been a shop operating from the picturesque black and white building since the 1890s.
“It’s not become viable for the amount of time that is put into it,” said Nigel Thomas, who took over the running of the enterprise with wife Helen twoand- a-half years ago.
“One of the reasons is the reduction in postal services over the years which has made quite an impact.
“We’re now not able to do car taxes, business accounts or foreign currency. All we’re able to offer is pensions, parcels and stamps and you can’t make any commission on that.
“Regarding the store, we have to contend with competition from all the supermarkets who can offer huge discounts.
“We are also not on a main road so we don’t have a passing trade.
“The supermarkets can also offer home deliveries. It’s a culmination of all these things. It’s down to general usage and people’s shopping habits.
“The shop is just not able to support itself so I’ve had to take the decision to say we can’t do it anymore.”
Mr Thomas said those who use the shop have seen it coming and have done the best they can to support it.
But despite offering the business for sale over the past 18 months, it has received no takers.
Mr Thomas hit the headlines two years ago when, as manager of the Foley Arms Hotel in Malvern, he staged a five day sit-in with staff over unpaid wages after it ceased trading. It is now owned by Wetherspoons.
Cradley Parish Council chairman Chris Lowder said the post office closure was a shame.
“It’s a great pity because there has been a shop there since the 1890s,” he said.
“It’s a focal point of village life. There is another shop here in Cradley so we are not losing a service completely, but the one that is going is more accessible to some of those in the village.”
Mr Thomas says he will continue to run a postal-only service from the shop on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings for the next three weeks.