United front in fight to save Post Office
Aug 9 2008 by Ben Guy, The Journal
A PETITION opposing the closure of a rural post office branch has attracted more than 800 names. The petition was yesterday officially sent from Belsay post office, Northumberland, to Post Office Limited, asking them to reconsider the decision to close the branch.
Subpostmistress Stephanie Jarron said the response from people opposing the closure had been more than was anticipated.
She said: “We have had 843 names, which I understand is the most for a branch in a rural area.
“The other interesting thing is that we have people on the petition from Otterburn to Ponteland, and Rothbury to Colwell, which backs up one of our best arguments.
“It is not just the hamlet of Belsay that is served by the branch, it is a much wider area.
“I am not particularly confident they will listen – but we have done our best.”
As well as the petition, dozens of letters were sent in protest to the planned closure of the branch.
The post office is one of scores across the North East that are putting forward final submissions to Post Office Limited as it consults over the closure programme.
In Newcastle yesterday, Liberal Democrats came together in the fight to save the nine threatened post offices in the city.
Euro MP Fiona Hall, parliamentary spokesperson for Newcastle North Ron Beadle, and nine city councillors yesterday met at Walbottle Village Post Office – one of those under threat. They posted petitions of 1,000 signatures collected across Newcastle since the closures were announced in July, ahead of the deadline of the consultation on Monday.
Meanwhile, Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods has launched a survey seeking views on the planned post office closures in Gilesgate and Brancepeth.
The Labour MP, who voted against an opposition motion which would have delayed the national series of closures, wants the post offices to remain open.
The survey will now be sent to residents in the affected area.
The deadline for the Post Office consultation is early next week, with the final list of branches that are to close being published next month.
