Post Office accused of "underhand" tactics in village fight

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THE Post Office has been accused of "underhand" tactics which could put a rural post office at risk.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael sharply criticised the Post Office's intention to temporarily close Amberley post office and re-open it with another sub postmaster on less than half the money than now.

The post office on the edge of Minchinhampton Common, near Stroud has been running since 1938 and if it closes, the owners fear the shop which runs alongside it will be unviable.

"I stand completely opposed to these actions, and in their underhanded tactics to bring about a change of terms as a member of staff retires," said Mr Carmichael. "Mike Stephenson, the owner, has my full support as do all concerned residents who are being threatened with losing the lifeline of their local community."

Jean Kelleher is retiring from running it, so the Post Office intends re-opening a "Post Office Local" in the village, which may not be in the shop but another business.

However Mr Stephenson, who lives in the building and ran the branch from 1988 to 1992, has asked the Post Office if he could run it again. But he has been told instead of the current payment of around £9,000 a year, whoever runs it would get about £4,000 for transactions – and pay for new counters and insurance.

"It's quite an insult really," he said. "They have taken the opportunity of Jean retiring to close the post office."

A Post Office spokeswoman confirmed the change.

"Our priority is to maintain Post Office services to local communities and it is therefore important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited."