Fears over post office

A postmaster on the Powys and Shropshire border fears for the future of his business after being left without any stock and unable to serve customers for nearly two weeks.

Neil Biggs, postmaster at Marton Post Office, is still struggling to get answers from Post Office bosses after being told he was being temporarily closed down while the shop's system was upgraded.

Although Mr Biggs is still able to fully operate his grocery business, he claims he is being hit in the pocket as residents are being forced to travel to neighbouring villages to access services as the post office sits dormant.

He said: "A woman turned up and said 'I am here to close you down temporarily'. Her argument was that they were updating the system. It was going to take a week but it's been well over a week.

"If they had sent me a letter or rang it would have been OK, but they came in, closed us down and I have heard nothing since.

"Apparently, we are waiting for the stock to be changed. I have not got a penny in here, not a stamp.

"The actual paperwork is here but I cannot do electronic tokens or someone wanting to come in and pay a bill - they can't do that.

"It has knocked three bells out of the grocery shop.

"They should not be closing us down, we have done nothing wrong. If they are, I need to know - I need to inform my customers."

District councillor for the area, Heather Kidd, said: "It looks like a back door way of shutting the post office.

"The nearest post offices are in Chirbury and Worthen but are about three miles away - too far to walk.

"They are having to go on busses to get their pensions. Without trade for two weeks it's going to go down the tube very quickly."

But a Post Office Limited spokesman today said they were hoping to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

He said: "Post Office Limited can confirm Marton Post Office has been temporarily closed as a result of technical difficulties.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused to customers but we are currently liaising with the sub-postmaster and aim to resolve these difficulties as soon as possible."

By Tamlyn Jones