R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

An inventor has built a giant vending machine, as a way of helping rural communities that have lost their village shop.

The first one has just been installed in a pub car park at Clifton, near Ashbourne in Derbyshire and there are already plans to place them in other villages in the area.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/03/20/the-really-convenient-store-the-village-vending-shop-thats-open-all-hours-4671430/

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Nothing new about that idea - vending machines were commonplace when I was growing up and whilst I expect with modern technology they can offer a far wider range of products it's really only recycling an old concept

Whilst I'm sure that it will be helpful to small rural communities it certainly won't replace the local village shop around which like the pub and post office much communal interaction centred

And of course a major problem in these areas has been the closure of large numbers of small independent local fuel stations which means that for many residents not only do they have to pay a higher price for fuel they have to ensure that they keep sufficient in the tank to drive to the nearest fill up point which these days can be miles away Sad

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