PRINCE Charles would be proud of him. John Belt's decision to turn a corner of the Milburn Arms, Rosedale, into a post office is exactly the sort of initiative the Prince was keen to encourage on his last visit to North Yorkshire.

In December he was at the Craven Heifer pub at Stainforth, near Settle - which boasts a shop and a post office - to launch an initiative, The Pub Is The Hub. "Providing new services from the pub not only keeps an essential service in the village or brings a new one in but increases the income of the pub itself, giving it a more secure future," the Prince said.

He is right. Mr Belt's post office counter will make a huge difference to the Rosedale community. For the last 18 months farmers and villagers have had to travel eight miles to Pickering just to send a package or pick up a pension. Now these facilities are back on their doorstep.

This is particularly important for the many residents who have no car: the elderly, young mums and others. They feel increasingly isolated in a society which favours urban dwellers and large out-of-town shops and services.

The rural post office network is diminishing rapidly. More than 500 branches closed down between 1997 and 2000. Unless more community-minded entrepreneurs like Mr Belt are willing to take on post office duties, this situation will worsen.

As Prince Charles said, diversification is the key to success for many rural businesses. Mr Belt's post office profit will probably be minimal, but the service will generate goodwill and extra visits to his hotel which can only be beneficial.

The Milburn Arms is following the trail blazed by The Greyhound at Saxton, near Tadcaster, and the Crown Inn at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon. The real value of providing a post office counter, the licensees of both pubs agreed, is in keeping the community together. We'll drink to that.

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, April 16, 2002