ANGRY campaigners have condemned the news that 48 Shropshire post offices, including Hilton and The Hobbins, will definitely close.
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The first closures in the county are scheduled for next month, but no date has yet been finalised for shutting the two local branches.
Pat Williams, who has run The Hobbins post office for 29 years, said the news was “sad”. She said that the premises would close completely and she would no longer sell grocery necessities.
Hilton post office, in Stratford Lane, has been run by Tim Cornes since 1999, when he took over from his mother, who had been there since 1953. He had said when the cut was threatened — prior to consultation confirmed this week — that he was not surprised because it was now very quiet at the outlet.
Other local changes will see outreach services at Old Faithful’s farm shop in Quatt and at Norton Village Hall.
Local MP Philip Dunne, who led the fight to retain 14 post offices in his constituency, said he was “very disappointed. The Government has been responsible for withdrawing so much business from the Post Office in recent years,” he claimed
“I have urged them to award the new Post Office Card Account contract to Post Office Ltd so that we do not suffer another round of cuts.”
Shropshire County Council leader Councillor Malcolm Pate, of Albrighton, said the Government and Post Office Ltd must take full responsibility for the closures.
“But we will now talk to the Post Office, the branches and communities affected to discuss the best way to support them,” he said.
“We fought very hard to resist these closures,” said Bridgnorth county councillor and Shirehall cabinet member for the economy, Councillor John Hurst-Knight. “We knew there was only a slim chance of changing Post Office Ltd’s minds, but it is bitterly disappointing all the same.”
“Logic, sense and reason have obviously not entered into the Post Office’s considerations,” said Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Councillor Heather Kidd.
“The impact here could be twofold,” said Councillor Colin Taylor, Lib Dem leader on Bridgnorth District Council. “Not only will we lose this service in places like The Hobbins and Quatt, but it will force more people to use the town centre post office where space is limited and where it is frequently overcrowded.”
