More than 800 have their say on plans to move Saltburn Post Office

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Post Office wants to move its base in the town from Station Square to the Nisa shop on Windsor Road

More than 800 letters and comments have been delivered over plans to move Saltburn’s Post Office out of the town centre.

Locals were given until March 25 to lodge their complaints and opinions about plans to move facilities from a dedicated site in Station Square to a recently opened Nisa convenience store on Windsor Road.

The overwhelming response to the proposal has now been picked up by councillors, for sending on to the Post Office.

Ward councillor Stuart Smith said: “Myself and Councillor Philip Thomson picked them up from a small group of residents from Hannover House, Saltburn.

“It is not a petition, but comments. Some may have been in favour.

“The Post Office will then review what people have said.

“They will look at what businesses have said, what the parish council and local MPs have commented.”

The plans have sparked outrage among some people, with claims the new proposed site - 400m away on Windsor Road - could even be dangerous for some users.

But Councillor Smith said: “Where the Nisa is is still part of the town. The way Post Offices are going is that they are going into established businesses.

“Whatever happens, it will not go back into the original building and it will have to be moved somewhere because the post mistress is giving up her licence.”

But some residents and Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop have called on the Post Office to reconsider the move, saying it would be inconvenient and potentially dangerous.

Saltburn resident Margaret Bennett, 67, said: “The Nisa shop, where they plan to move the post office, is on a busy main road and could be quite unsafe for elderly residents trying to make it across. A lot of people have walking frames and struggle to get around so it will make it very difficult for some people to get there.”

Margaret lives in Hannover House, a block of 24 flats located on Pearl Street which is home to residents aged between 60-80.

Manager Ann Etchells said: “A lot of the residents are really upset about the movement. They will have to walk a lot further and some of them won’t be able to make it.

“The post office has always been in the town centre and it’s going to be a really big blow to them when it moves.”

Mr Blenkinsop said: “If it is allowed to slip through, it will inconvenience many.”