| Village
life goes underground |
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| Plans
for underground shop and post office |
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A
shortage of space has led one Devon village to look at building a
subterranean general store and post office. The innovative idea came
up after the original post office at Exbourne shut down. |
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Shops
may be built underground in a Devon village with a shortage of space.
Villagers in Exbourne have been given permission to build underneath
a grassy bank.
A subterranean post office, cafe and general store are planned.
The scheme became possible after a local farmer donated the land.
The closure of the sub post office in December 2001 prompted villagers
into taking action.
The village hall has been used to house a satellite post office, shop,
cafe, travelling fishmonger and travelling baker.
But every day everything has to be cleared away and there is no storage
space.
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| The
underground pharmacy at Crediton |
The former
post office has been sold off to become a house.
There is no room for new buildings, so villagers decided to consider
underground development.
The Exbourne post office will not be the first building in Devon which
has gone to the earth, a pharmacy in Crediton is also partly underground.
Meeting place
West Devon Borough Councillor Denise Herrod-Taylor said: "There is
very little flat land in the village centre.
"We needed to get a site that was suitable and accessible.
"A local architect said that using the bank was a very feasible idea."
They have now won outline planning approval.
Resident Margaret Weeks said: "It is important, I think, especially
for the older people, because a lot of them haven't got cars.
"They can't get anywhere and this is a meeting place for them."
Those involved with the project say a permanent post office is needed.
Sally Hordern of the Exbourne and Jacobstowe Initiative: "It had closed,
unfortunately, just before Christmas.
"So, for three months nobody could get their pensions - they had to
go to either Hatherleigh or Okehampton.
Councillor Herrod-Taylor said: "This will be a social centre that
is very much needed." Villagers have already raised £2,500 towards
the scheme, which will cost an estimated £150,000.
"With the post office going, the heart went out of the village. Now
I hope we'll get it back again."
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