Rural Lottery outlet under threat

Last Updated: Thursday 7th July 2011, 15:49

The owner of a rural lottery outlet fears it’s under threat for the third year running, even though it’s the only lottery terminal in a seven miles. Carol Englefield is a sub-postmistress at Sennen and Lands End post office but due to poor tourist seasons hasn’t reached her sales target for the third year running. Yet despite that, without the lottery machine, local people have to travel seven miles to the nearest outlet.

Now many of us buy lotto tickets online and it’s no wonder, it’s so quick and easy and convenient but of course that doesn’t mean we should get rid of our community resources.

Surely we’ll all still need pubs, post offices, banks and lottery machines even if many of us now have access to the internet? It’s elderly and vulnerable people who unfortunately suffer, the people who may be the ones who get the most out of their weekly lotto flutter.

Camelot have now returned correspondence on the matter and say that Mrs Englefield need not worry, her “community outlet” is exempt from sales targets because it’s the only outlet in the area. They have however sent a letter to the sub-postmistress to inform her of a new programme which aims to boost sales of lottery tickets.

Winter is always a quiet time in such touristy places and we’re guessing that Mrs Englefield will be hoping for a good summer and a great tourist season, if not then she may find herself back here next year in exactly the same position.
 

Written by Chris Brown

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