A CAMPAIGN has been launched by Cheshire County Council to save three post offices in Mid Cheshire earmarked for closure in January.

The county council has decided to mount a campaign to save post offices in Winnington, Leftwich and Clive, near Winsford, at a meeting of the executive held last week.

It follows a decision by Post Office Ltd last week to close Winnington Post Office on Winnington Lane on January 20 along with Leftwich Green Post Office on London Road on January 21 and Clive Post Office on Middlewich Road on January 19.

The executive committee has vowed to make strong representations to theGovernment, MPs, the Cheshire Strategic Partnership and the Post Office over the plans.

Speaking at the meeting, deputy council leader David Rowlands said: 'Our post offices are the very lifeblood of our communities, in fact entire communities are built around them.

'If these facilities were to disap-pear, where would it leave the people who depend upon them? Without doubt these proposals would affect some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

'Crucially, closing sub-post offices reduces the amount of money circulating in a community, thus weakening local businesses by lessening the amount people spend with them. We as a county council intend to clearly express our concern about the impact these closures would have on the communities of Cheshire.'

Social services executive member Lynn Hardwick claimed that the county council was not formally consulted on the closure process. She said: 'I find it quite unbelievable that, as a county council, we have not been asked to pass comment on a matter which stands to affect thousands of people in Cheshire.

'Indeed, I believe the manner in which this consultation has been carried out leaves much to be desired and I welcome the fact that we will be making clear our deep concern on this issue.'