MP concerned over 'sacking'

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AN MP has expressed his concern to the chief executive of Royal Mail about the apparent dismissal of Odiham’s sub-postmaster.

James Arbuthnot, MP for North East Hampshire, wrote a letter to Moya Greene after the Post Office and Card Shop in High Street was forced to close on Thursday, December 8 when Paul Kemp, who has manned the desk for two-and-a-half years, mysteriously left.

It reopened on Tuesday last week with a replacement for Mr Kemp.

David Bristow, a former sub-postmaster in Odiham who runs the card shop, said Mr Kemp was dismissed after three Post Office officials entered the store on the Thursday.

This has not yet been confirmed to The Gazette by the Post Office or Mr Kemp.

Mr Bristow, who said he had to find a temporary replacement, said: “Paul loved his job, he loved the people of Odiham and they loved him. I cannot understand it.”

Jennifer Pratt, of Carnation Close, Odiham, told The Gazette: “I really feel angry about it – everybody in Odiham does. Paul is so nice and everybody loves him.”

Mr Arbuthnot said: “I have had quite a lot of messages from villagers who are clearly extremely concerned. It is the worst possible time of year for this to happen.

“The letter is a general expression of concern that I have made about what has just come to light.”

He plans to meet with MPs from other constituencies where sub-postmasters say they have been dismissed unfairly.

The Justice for Sub-postmaters Alliance is seeking redress for 110 former Post Office workers across the country, including former South Warnborough sub-postmistress Jo Hamilton.

They say they were dismissed unfairly for what they believe are faults in the Post Office’s accounting system.

However, there is nothing to suggest this happened to Mr Kemp.

Valerie Antoine, spokeswoman for Post Office Ltd, apologised for the inconvenience caused by the closure, and added: “This was due to circumstances beyond our control.”