Thirteen post offices branches across Shropshire will definitely close, it was announced today.But one has been saved and a further 13 will be replaced by outreach services.
The long-awaited announcement was made by Post Office Ltd today - three months after 28 under-threat branches were unveiled on a hit-list. Nationally 2,500 post offices have been earmarked for closure.
The first closures are scheduled to take place in August.
Today it was confirmed that 13 would close including Ditherington in Shrewsbury, Morda, near Oswestry, and Aston on Clun near Craven Arms.
But Greenfields Post Office in Shrewsbury has been saved and plans to close Randlay Post Office, Telford, are under review.
Lydbury North Post Office in south Shropshire, will close and be replaced by a hosted outreach service.
Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, today raised the possibility of calling for a judicial review.
He said: “I believe that taking away post offices is infringing people’s human rights. I haven’t ruled out the prospect of going to the High Court for a judicial review with other MPs.”
Subpostmasters today spoke of their disappointment. Pete Shemar, owner of Ditherington Post Office, said: “Post Office Ltd is determined to close it down and it’s sad for our customers.”
Postmistress at Lydbury North Jenny Juleff said: “If they do everything they say they are going to do it will be a dying village.”
Sarwan Singh, sub-postmaster at Randlay in Telford, said he was disappointed as it faced further review.
But Mohamed Shaheen, whose wife Rubbina is subpostmistress at Greenfields, which has been saved, said: “We are glad that the Post Office officials have used some common sense.”
Councillor John Hurst-Knight, Shropshire County Council cabinet member for economy, said: “We will now look to help those communities recover their retail services.”
Mark Partington, Post Office Ltd’s network development manager for Shropshire and Staffordshire, said the decisions had not been made lightly.
THE LIST IN FULL
Branches in Shropshire which will close:
All Stretton, Church Stretton; Aston On Clun; Church Aston, near Newport; Coton Service Station, Coton, Whitchurch; Ditherington, Shrewsbury; East Hamlet, Ludlow.
Harmer Hill; Hilton, near Bridgnorth; Knowbury, Ludlow; Morda, near Oswestry; Park Corner, King Street, Wellington, Telford; Standford Service Station, Sambrook, Newport and The Hobbins, Bridgnorth.
Branches which have been reprieved and are no longer on the list:
Greenfields, Shrewsbury.
Branches subject to further review:
Randlay, Unit 1 Local Centre, Randlay, Telford.
Branches to be replaced by a hosted outreach service:
Lydbury North, 61 Lydbury North.
Branches which will be replaced by an outreach service:
Acton Burnell; Cressage, near Shrewsbury; Hadnall, near Shrewsbury; Marton, near Welshpool; Montford Bridge, near Shrewsbury; Munslow, near Craven Arms; Norton, near Shifnal; Quatt, Bridgnorth; Snailbeach, near Shrewsbury; Wentnor, near Bishop’s Castle; West Felton, near Oswestry and Worthen, near Shrewsbury.
By John Kirk
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6 Comments
ah well all very sad, but not a lot can be done about it now , everyone needs to move and ensure what is put in there place is run well .
Good stuff, its nice to see that sensible decisions can still be made in this ludicrous society of vote snatching and political correctness!
I’m sure more should be closed to make the Royal Mail Group Ltd more financially viable.
I do hope the new outreach services comply with the Disability Rights Act.
A wonderful day for common sense.
its a sad shame but as a taxpayer i am glad they are making the savings on non economic areas
you lucky souls in shropshire, 83 are scheduled for closure in devon. i assume harold does not live in an afflicted area, otherwise his common sense approach seems hollow