New Plymouth post office closes after just two months

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A POST office service which opened in Pennycomequick after a campaign and long-running negotiations has shut just two months later.

Post Office Ltd has confirmed that Martin Paish, boss of The Late Shop, in Stuart Road, had decided to end the counter service he was running from his shop after a “trial” period.

No explanation was given and Mr Paish, whose shop is still trading, was not available to speak to The Herald.

But Stoke ward councillor Joan Watkins, who battled for Post Office Ltd to create the service, said its hasty closure came as a “bolt out of the blue”.

Plymouth City Council and Post Office Ltd are now locked in talks in a bid to resolve the situation.

Ms Watkins said: “My officers and I are talking to the Post Office. It’s blown up a bit quickly really.

“I will be meeting Mr Paish and looking to see how we might resolve matters.”

The “trial Post Office Local service” was set up in March after 16 months of negotiations between Plymouth City Council and Post Office Ltd.

The Late Shop is just a few doors from Tremain News, where the Post Office branch was one of seven in the city axed during a huge cull of more than 40 post offices across Devon in 2008.

The shutdown was carried out despite a popular campaign to save the branch.

However, Ms Watkins took up the cudgels and continued to press for a U-turn, arguing that branches in the city centre and Mutley Plain were too far for the elderly and mothers with small children to visit and the one in Cecil Street, Stonehouse, involved a punishing uphill hike, again difficult for old folk and parents with small children.

Ms Watkins argued residents were angry and upset at losing a community facility.

After lengthy talks — during which a branch in the city centre’s Derrys store also closed, further complicating the issue — a resolution was found.

Ms Watkins approached Mr Paish, whose business is a member of the Premier convenience store group, to provide a home for the new branch.

Complicated issues involving compensation payments had provided a hurdle to re-establishing it inside Tremain News.

The Late Shop branch opened in March, after what Ms Watkins described as “a long, protracted and rocky road”.

The new outlet offered a slightly reduced service from previously, but nonetheless provided the main Post Office functions, including selling stamps, posting items, claiming benefits and allowing cash withdrawals.

Council information was also provided to customers, including advice on benefits and caring for older people.

A Post Office Ltd spokesman said: “I can confirm that the trial Post Office Local service at Pennycomequick closed today.

“The closure follows the decision taken by the agent not to continue.

“We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience.

“Post Office Ltd is considering the options going forward.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

DVBUK and DGP will go potty over the name of this village.

[POSTMAN]

Just rem the naughty room has been cleaned guys.................

[motherhubbard]

Lucky Penny is all I can say.

[DGP1]

If my wife hears it'll be DGPcomesquick

I know, off to the naughty room..............again