Nine post offices to close: six weeks to have your say
Aug 5 2008 By Sam Casey
NINE post offices in Huddersfield and the Colne Valley are facing the axe in the latest wave of branch closures.
The hit list of threatened offices was released today – and was met by a promise to fight to keep some open.
The offices facing closure are: Halifax Road, Birchencliffe; Wheathouse Road, Birkby; Woodhead Road, Holmbridge; Leeds Road; Lockwood Road, Lockwood; St Thomas Road, Longroyd Bridge; Acre Street, Oakes; Quarmby Road, Quarmby; and Wooldale Road, Wooldale.
The offices were on a hit list released today by Post Office Ltd.
Colne Valley MP Kali Mountford, whose constituency includes five of the threatened branches – nearly a quarter of those in the Colne Valley – criticised the decision.
She said: "It is disappointing to see so many rural post offices in the proposals for closure.
"I am angry that, having put forward such a strong submission to retain them, the representations about access for people in rural areas have been ignored."
She said although there were other branches within short distances of the ones that are set to close, customers in the valleys would struggle.
"This is a very hilly area and with bus cuts it’s not going to make things very easy for people," she said.
"The decision is based on usage but you have to look at other things like community resources and how cut off people will be as a result."
Ms Mountford has written to the sub-postmasters of the affected branches and Post Office Ltd to express her concern.
And she urged customers to tell the company what they thought about the plans before the September 22 consultation deadline.
She added: "Now would be a good time for everyone to work together to find imaginative solutions to make sure the whole community gets a good service and I will be investigating this with Post Office Ltd and Kirklees Council.
"This shows that a pin in a map doesn’t work and a careful look at what communities regard as needed in their area is crucial. It is now up to the community to make their voice heard."
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