RAMSBOTTOM has, over many years, evolved into a pleasant little shopping and recreational community. The opportunity to stroll the streets and be presented with a wide selection of wares, the freedom to choose which shops to patronise and which not, and the generally friendly disposition of its traders, have all added to the character of this thriving market town.

Thriving until now, that is!

Already overwhelmed with the ever emerging new Co-op store, we now learn of applications to allow the town's general post office to be sited within this building. This has many undesirable implications and must concern both the shopkeepers of Ramsbottom and their customers.

The existing post office is in an almost central position which means that anyone wishing to use it has to use the main streets. If it is moved into the new Co-op complex it will be inconvenient and possibly remove half, or more, of the passing trade from the remainder of the shops! It also means that elderly people will have to extend their downhill journey (and the returning uphill one) to collect their pensions, etc. Not pleasant in winter weather. The store has a large car park and if I were a Ramsbottom shopkeeper I would be so concerned about this threat that I would be taking steps to stand in the way of this plan. As a Ramsbottom shopper, I have the choice to vote with my feet. If I have no particular wish to "Shop at the Co-op" it follows that I would not go there simply to buy a stamp! It may also then follow that I do not shop in the town at all.

It is my belief that this move would have negative consequences for everyone - apart from the Co-op, that is. It is a clever piece of marketing strategy which can be guaranteed to benefit only one party.

Everyone in Ramsbottom has benefited in some way from the town's recent revival, so they should now do whatever is necessary to prevent this move if they do not wish to see its decline. One only need look at other local towns where similar monopolies have occurred: Radcliffe is a shining example.

To view this move as unstoppable now would be a mistake, but how to stop it is another question. I can only hope that the local Chamber of Trade is well aware of the situation and is giving it careful consideration.

EMJAY

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.