Plea for customers to safeguard PO service

Dec 5 2008 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE’S rural post offices have been saved say post masters and now they want everybody to use their closest branch.

Cheshire rural post offices which escaped closure in March feared the worst when a private company bid for the Card Account. The account distributes pensions and benefits to millions of claimants across the country. Without it, post offices across the area would see a dramatic drop in custom with an expected 3,000 closures across the UK.

The Government has now decided to close the bidding for the account and allow the Post Office to continue offering the service.

Burwardsley post office escaped closure last year and post mistress Mandy Geall said she didn’t believe her post office was really safe until now.

She said: “We did think if we lost the account we would have to close.

“The customers as well as the staff are so relieved. They were all very concerned about how they would get their money if we lost the account.

“Especially since we lost the bus. If we didn’t have the account, customers would have to get a taxi to Tattenhall. That would just be horrendous for everybody in the village.

“It just seems the post office is much more secure and stable now. It seems as if we have been given a vote of confidence and that gives me the confidence to expand and employ an extra member of staff.

“I feel I can invest my time and money into the post office, and not worry that it might be closed down.”

Terina White, manager of Cholmondeley’s Castle Farm Shop and Post Office said: “Everybody was absolutely delighted that the post office was awarded the account.

“It is of course fantastic, if we had lost the Card Account we would probably lose the post office, so we as a business are delighted. We just want everybody to use their local branch.”

Malpas sub postmaster Nigel Owen believes if they lost the account, post offices would just disappear.

“But now we feel much more supported, and as if the post office does actually have a future.”

“We would just like to thank all the customers who wrote to the local MP asking for the account to stay with the Post Office.”