'Another blow' to rural communities

by John Maslin john.maslin@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
The closure of one district service station and pending shutdown of two others has been termed another blow to rural communities.
Rangitikei Mayor Chalky Leary said news that Caltex petrol stations in Marton and Sanson were tagged for shutdown was "very sad" but typical of what continued to happen in rural New Zealand.
"All the little fullas are getting squeezed out but I don't know what we can do about it," Mr Leary said yesterday.
The BP station in Bulls closed on Monday.
He said when something like this happens in small towns it has a huge impact.
"In Marton it will mean three or four part-time jobs will disappear and it means people just have to travel a bit further to get their petrol now. It all adds costs and inconvenience."
He said the problems facing the smaller petrol stations had been an issue for a long time.
"You only have to drive between here and Wellington to see how many little garages have disappeared in the last few years and it all impacts on rural New Zealand.
"I'd like to be doing more but unfortunately I haven't got the powers I could do with," Mr Leary said.
"It's just chipping away at our communities and services suffer as a consequence and makes it harder for towns to exist. And every business that's not here is at least one less ratepayer," he said.
Bill Gordon owns Rainbow Outdoor Furniture in Sanson and his factory fronts SH1 just along from the soon-to-close Caltex service station.
Mr Gordon said he could not see the closure drastically affecting his business because "businesses are opening and closing in Sanson all the time".
"But with the Caltex station closing it means the post office closes as well which could be a bit of an inconvenience.
"It would affect me more if the Shell station directly across the road from me were to close. I know people park there, look across the road and will sometimes see something that takes their interest."
Mr Gordon has operated from his current site for five years and before that had a couple of years around the corner on SH1 heading toward Wellington. He said the highway through Sanson was a busy all the time.
"I've heard that something like 13,000 vehicles pass through here every day. It's probably a conservative number.
"But it's one thing to have them going through, it's another to get them to stop," he said.
He said the best attraction in the village in recent years has been the mobile coffee shop that parks up next to his business.
"In the five years I've been here we've had businesses that have come and gone. A pet lasted about six months, a fruit shop lasted about four months and two car yards lasted about 18 months but they've gone too," Mr Gordon said.
Andrew Feldon operates Streetwise Coffee on SH1and said he was dismayed to learn the Caltex station was closing.
Mr Feldon said while it would not have direct impact on his business it "will be a shame for the community".
"The petrol station has always stocked a lot of household goods. There's no dairy here so they often stock a lot of those commodities. I suppose now it means some will have to travel into Bulls."
He said rumours about the service station closing had been circulating for a few months.
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