Victory for great granny who saved Uplands post office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/ ... ticle.html

Pensioner Mary Davies feared she'd never again walk through the door of Uplands Post Office.

But at 8am yesterday, she did just that – and helped cut the red ribbon to celebrate along with dozens of campaigners and residents.

A legal challenge to its closure, launched by the 74-year-old, played a key role in making sure post master Robin Craig was able to open up again for the first time in a couple of months.

"We kept on fighting," said Mrs Davies, who relies on the branch for everyday supplies and bill payments. "I didn't know whether I would be able to come down today but I'm glad I did."

Because she has limited mobility after several falls, her daughter drops her off right outside the Springfield Road post office – something which is nigh impossible at Stroud's main office.

Mrs Davies, who has five grown up children, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, suffers with osteoporosis of the spine, asthma, angina and has had a leg and an arm metal-plated after falls.

In June her injunction to stop it closing was put on ice by a High Court judge, to allow for talks between Stroud Town Council, Mr Craig, and Post Office Ltd.

To support the branch, the town council is putting in £10,000 for the service this year and up to £25,000 for the next two years.

Town mayor John Marjoram urged the community to continue its support.

"People of Stroud and Uplands, we are taking back a public service for the community," he told around 30 people who joined in the celebratory re-opening. "This could not have happened without grants from the town council, but your backing got us through.

"The social cohesion a post office like this provides is crucial to this community. Tragically, seven other post offices in the area have closed because of these plans."

Because the Government would not keep the Post Office's branches afloat with £4million a week, it told it to cut 2,500 branches nationwide. In Gloucestershire, 26 were up for closure. Uplands was the only one to be saved and is only the second in the country to win a reprieve.

"It's quite overwhelming," said Mr Craig. "It took a long time to achieve it but we got there in the end.

"I appreciate all the support you have given me."

Springfield Road resident Mary Moore said closure would have been unthinkable.

"I have had to travel to Paganhill post office while it's been closed," she said. "I think it's fantastic, I have been living here for nearly 30 years and it is a real asset to the community."

Stroud MP David Drew, who voted with the Conservatives on a bid in Westminster to halt the closures, paid tribute to those who saved it.

"Some of us wish this had happened a bit quicker," he said. "But the community has got behind this. The key thing now is to make sure enough people continue coming through the door."