Our Pubs and Post Offices are being forced to close at an alarming rate. This is not a natural process in our view. We believe that is is being contrived for all the wrong reasons, many of which harm our community and social spirit. We firmly believe that this is a deliberate act.
Pubs used to be vibrant centers of the community where people would meet socialise, keep up with the local gossip, and generally just plain enjoy themselves. Although now an emotive subject, smoking was part of the scene. Now we see freezing clumps of cigarette sucking creatures huddled under shanty covers, just because they like to have a smoke. We appreciate that smoking is abhorrent to many people, but the smoking ban has done little other that help in the demise of the 'Pub'. Why not just have the means of customers being able to make a simple choice. Smoking or non smoking.
In a different way the demise of the village Post Office and shop can now be seen in its true context. The joint LibLabCon parties wanted to privatise the GPO all along. These rural post offices stood in the way and they just had to go.
Long gone are the days when pensioners queued to collect their pensions, and had a good natter and possibly a coffee morning afterwards.
Or maybe even a visit for a pub lunch, and the odd half-pint.
Nowadays we are constantly hearing of poor old folk being found dead in their homes, because nobody missed them. They never had a routine any more. Possibly the only contact that these lonely people had with others was on pension day. Who knows?
Ed.
