Baltonsborough Village Stores awarded the regional Local Retail Champion Award 2025 for the South West
Tabled 27 November 2025 by Sarah Dyke
That this House congratulates Bittuben and Nik Patel on being crowned the South West’s regional winners of the Local Retail Champion Awards 2025; understands that the Local Retail Champion Awards, held annually, are organised by the National Lottery operator Allwyn and seek to recognise the most community-minded National Lottery shopkeepers across the country, encompassing kindness, connection and community spirit; notes that the Patels received a large number of nominations from local residents in recognition of their positive contributions to the village after having successfully run Baltonsborough Village Stores for over 3 years; further understands that upon winning their regional award, they received £5,000 from the National Lottery towards the cost of setting up their new Post Office, which opened in the shop last week, ending seven years without a Post Office in the village; celebrates their achievement in providing a Post Office for their rural community of Baltonsborough, giving individuals the opportunity to withdraw and deposit cash, deliver parcels, pay bills and exchange currencies, with access to these services being vital for rural residents; recognises the active role played by sub-postmasters in supporting regional economies; and calls on the Government to provide sub-postmasters with increased independence and control over their services, whilst fully leveraging their ability to deliver financially inclusive initiatives for rural areas.