Neighbourhood heroes

I know personally the traders in all
my local food shops - it’s a real pleasure to have a natter with them, and I go drinking with some, and
get free horse manure for my garden from another.

There used to be several shops here and a pub which you could walk into and know the people who ran them. We also had neighbours who lived here for a number of years so you could actually make friends with them. I don’t even know the names of my neighbours now.

I consider myself very fortunate that
a pharmacy is my nearest shop and that the doctor’s surgery is just a few yards further. The considerable
number of local people (especially senior citizens) without cars would find things very difficult if these local facilities disappeared.

Everyone should have a library within walking distance. It’s great for borrowing music, DVD, reading magazines and newpapers. I could not afford to buy more books; the library has a fantastic range. I pop in a lot and wouldn’t if it were a drive or bus ride away. I meet friends there and sometimes g

I don’t think any lollipop ladies and men should go because they’re very important. It can be dangerous at the crossing, sometimes the older children just run out into the road. The children and parents walk past Lesley, our lollipop lady, and they say good morning to each other, it teaches the kids

Our shop is the hub of the village: it displays local news and events. There is no other shop nearby and if it closed many people, particularly those who are not so mobile, would feel much more isolated.

I use many independent shops and also the bank and Post Office in the course of a week, so if any closed, I would have to travel further afield, probably by car. But I would also be deprived of the pleasure of having a chat with shop owners that you get to know.