A MAJOR review looking at ways of helping rural shops, pubs and post offices survive in the community has been carried out by Hambleton District Council.

The Cultural and Social Overview and Scrutiny Committee pinpointed ways in which the council could prevent closures, and examined why some pubs and shops were successful.

Members gathered evidence from the pub in Kirklington and the village shops in Brandsby and Tollerton.

The committee found a steady decline in the number of pubs and shops, which resulted in the loss of a focal point for the community.

The report says: "There has been a steady decline in the number of village shops. This is of concern since village shops and sub-post offices have important economic and social functions providing a valued service for rural inhabitants particularly those without access to a car or in villages poorly serviced by public transport."

The committee found that the success of shops was often attributed to the enthusiasm of the shopkeeper and stressed that pubs provide a "vital business role" at the heart of rural communities.

It is recommended that the change of use of shops and pubs into housing should not be permitted unless they are no longer viable, and that the council continues to provide rural rate relief.

Other recommendations include:

The Countryside Agency should continue the provision of grant aid

The policy for redundant computers should be amended to include use by rural pubs, post offices and shops for either personal business use or public access to the internet

Those running post offices should be urged to attend parish council meetings

The council should investigate ways of paying housing benefit electronically through the post office.

The committee will present its findings to the council's cabinet meeting tonight.

Updated: 12:12 Thursday, January 23, 2003