Fairlight village plans to buy post office fall through due to lack of funds

Last autumn a survey went out in the village after news that the facility could shut when the current owners step down.

Villagers put in an application for a grant to the Power to Change charitable trust in a bid to buy the Post Office and take over its running.

Fairlight Village Shop Ltd, a registered community benefit society, was also set up by an army of volunteers.

Drew Slaughter, vice-chairman of Fairlight Village Shop Ltd, said: “We put in an application last November for a grant and were looking for £400,000.

“We even met with a representative from The Plunkett Foundation, who seemed very confident.

“Unfortunately, the maximum limit of money we could have got would have been £160,000 from the Power to Change.

“They said they could help us look for other funding. But a lot of organisations gave small pots of money, such as £10,000 and we needed to fill a £260,000 shortfall.

“Due to all of us being volunteers and having jobs, we’ve just decided it’s too much for us to continue.

“It’s really disappointing as the village was fully behind it, raising £17,000.

“The parish council backed us as well as the post office owners. It was a real positive vibe.”

Fairlight Post Office and Shop has been established for 90 years and has been for sale for two years as the current owners want to retire.

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