RESIDENTS of ten villages received good news last night – their post offices will not close.

As people in the Huddersfield area await news of which branches in the area will shut, a top councillor revealed the good news that 10 will definitely survive the latest round of cuts.

They are: Clayton West, Denby Dale, Emley, Kirkburton, Lepton, Scissett, Shepley, Shelley, Skelmanthorpe and Upper Cumberworth.

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for finance Clr Andrew Palfreeman revealed that the Post Office will not include the 10 branches in its closure plans for south Kirklees, which will be announced on August 5.

But, speaking at last night’s monthly meeting of Kirklees Council, he said: “The major danger is to the branches in the Huddersfield area.”

Earlier this week the Post Office confirmed that nine branches in north Kirklees will close.

They are: Bradford Road, Batley; Fieldhead at Birstall; Soothill, Staincliffe, East Bierley, Six Lane Ends at Heckmondwike; Whitley, Hopton and Knowle in Mirfield.

Savile Town, which was originally earmarked for closure, has been given a reprieve. However, neighbouring Thornhill Edge has now been added to the list of post offices to shut.

A resident of the area told last night’s meeting that the move was “discriminatory”.

Gordon Birtwistle said: “The local community is greatly upset about this decision.

“The closure of the only non-Asian post office in the area would be discriminatory. We would feel a loss of identity.”

Mr Birtwistle, who has used the Thornhill Edge branch for 26 years, added: “Closure would affect elderly people, many of whom have lived there since the estate was opened in 1952.”

Clr Khizar Iqbal, who represents the area, spoke of his anger at the decision to close Thornhill Edge.

The Dewsbury South Conservative said: “I, along with many others, campaigned hard to keep Savile Town post office open and we were successful – but at what price?

“The price it seems was the closure of Thornhill Edge, which was never on the original list of branches to be shut. It was thrown in as a sacrifice.”