North-West Evening Mail
North-West Evening Mail
LIFELINE FOR POST OFFICES
Published on 14/05/2008
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PUPIL PROTEST: Aislinn Stanway, of Penny Bridge Primary School, marches down to Greenodd Village Post Office yesterday as the whole school posted letters of protest about the proposed closure of the branch LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 0429784
THREE South Lakeland post offices listed for closure have been offered a glimmer of hope.
Post Office bosses have pledged to review the closure decision for Greenodd and Leven Valley Post Offices.
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron organised for senior Post Office officials to meet with representatives of Greenodd, Leven Valley and Beetham post offices last Wednesday.
At those meetings, representatives were given cause for cautious optimism by the assurances to review the closure decisions made by Richard Lynds from Post Office Limited’s Network Change Team.
Mr Farron said: “It is too early to get our hopes up, but it’s clear that local campaigners in Beetham, Greenodd and Leven Valley have made a real impact on Post Office Ltd.
“We must keep up the fight over the next few weeks before the consultation period closes.”
Postmistress Debbie Harte, of Leven Valley Post Office, said that she felt their arguments were taken into consideration.
She said: “I got the impression that we were being listened to, so I came out feeling quite positive. But whether that will mean we stay open is a different matter entirely.
“People obviously want to keep the post office open as we are a long way from Ulverston and Kendal.”
Representatives from Leven Valley Post Office told Post Office bosses that the proposed outreach service site, at the Whitewater Hotel, was inadequate in terms of access and parking.
It would only open for nine hours a week, as opposed to the current 45 hours a week, and the closure of the Post Office will also result in the loss of the village shop.
Janet Willis, who runs Greenodd Post Office with her husband Lloyd, also felt the meeting was useful.
The Greenodd campaigners presented Richard Lynds with evidence of the parking difficulties at the proposed outreach service outside the village hall.
They also presented evidence of the geographical reach of the post office’s current customers, who would be forced to travel to the already busy Ulverston Post Office if Greenodd was to close.
Mrs Willis said: “Richard Lynds seemed quite impressed with the evidence that we presented. He said that rather than tugging at his heart strings he wanted facts and figures.”
Greenodd Post Office has organised a public meeting, set to take place in the village hall on Tuesday (20) at 7.30pm, for a final show of support for the campaign.
Penny Bridge Primary School is continuing to back the campaign to save Greenodd Post Office, and yesterday almost 100 children marched to the post office to send off their individual letters of support.
The consultation on the closure of 35 post offices across Cumbria is set to end on May 27.
Regarding last week’s meetings, a spokeswoman from Post Office Ltd said: “No decisions have been made on the branches which will close. The public consultation period for the Cumbria area ends on 27 May, before that time Post Office Ltd are happy to receive representations from local residents, MPs and other interested parties.”
There is still time to write and support your local post office, letters should be addressed to: Richard Lynds, Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team.