Council joins bid to save our post offices
CALLS to save post offices threatened with the axe have been made by district councillors in Hambleton.
A public consultation by Post Office Ltd on proposals to close three branches in the area ended last week with Hambleton District Council saying it was against the move.
The post offices under threat are North End (High Street, Northallerton), Brompton and Osmotherley. In neighbouring Richmondshire, the Waitwith (Catterick Garrison) and West End (Richmond) branches also face being scrapped.
"These plans go against our policy to improve the quality of life for Hambleton's residents and visitors. Cutting services in rural areas makes life far more difficult, especially for the elderly members of our population," said council leader Coun Arthur Barker.
Under the proposals, only Osmotherley would be replaced by an 'outreach service'. This would be based at the village hall and would provide post office services for eight hours a week.
'hardship'
Coun Barker said: "We believe that the proposals will further erode the sustainability of small rural communities and cause real hardship."
If the branches were to close, it would be the second blow to the post office network in our area this year.
After an earlier consultation ended in January, Post Office Ltd announced five post offices were to close during or after late March. They were Sowerby, Carthorpe, Baldersby, Borrowby and Kirby Wiske.
Fears that the current proposals could lead to further reductions to post office services have prompted North Yorkshire County Council to hit out at the plans.
impact
Chief executive John Marsden said the authority was "gravely concerned about the proposals as they would see a significant downgrading of the network."
He said: "The impact of closure or a reduced, limited-hours outreach service will be especially serious for older people both in the rural villages and in our urban areas."
Now the consultation period has ended, Post Office Ltd will consider whether to close the threatened branches.
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Weather for Northallerton
Thursday 24 May 2012
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