Council's 'dismay' over Post Office closure threat

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PRESSURE has been stepped up in the fight to keep Hessle's main post office open.

It is currently based in the Spar supermarket in The Square.

However, the franchise for the post office expired last summer while Spar only lease the building.

Ownership of the building, which is a former cinema, recently changed hands amid speculation that it could be demolished to make way for a new apartment scheme.

Post Office Counters Limited has advertised the franchise but has yet to find an alternative home for the business.

Now worried East Riding councillors have agreed to send a letter from the authority expressing its "concern and dismay" over the possible loss of the post office.

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Brian Jefferies, who represents Hessle, said: "It is unthinkable for a community like this to not have a post office at its centre.

"Hessle is one of the biggest towns in the East Riding with a population of 15,000.

"We all deplore the general running down of post office services in the East Riding over the last few years and if it happens in a place like Hessle it could also happen in Beverley.

"This change could happen in the very near future and if we do not make this point soon it will be too late."

Cllr Jefferies said the only other supermarket in the town centre was not interested in taking over the franchise.

He also doubted whether any shop was big enough to share space with a post office.

"The supreme irony is that the original post office is currently up for sale, but Post Office Counters are clearly not interested at all. It is ludicrous."

He was supported by fellow Hessle Lib Dem Councillor Bob Tress.

He said the lack of any real interest in taking over the franchise from other businesses in the town was worrying, but not unexpected.

"Post Office Counters want to run this on the cheap by using someone else's building. I can understand that, but I don't agree with it.

"Closure will happen unless someone else comes up with an idea for it and there is nothing certain about that happening," he added.

But Conservative Councillor Bryan Pearson accused the Lib Dems of trying to turn the issue into a political one.

He claimed they were only interested in campaigning to save the post office to then claim credit for keeping it open if someone else offered to host the franchise.

"They are just spreading alarm and despondency in Hessle," he added.