Buntingford postmaster offered cash to close store

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A postmaster has hit out at mail bosses intent on , who are seeking to line his pockets in exchange for stripping "vital facilities" out of Buntingford.

Surjit Singh Basra, who runs the town's post office, has been offered redundancy by the Post Office to shut his Baldock Road store. by the company.

The former mayor, who returned to the town council in May, was also unhappy to receive a letter from Royal Mail asking him to close his sorting office, in exchange for £24,444.

This would force customers to travel to Ware to pick up their parcels, a trip that has been made significantly harder for the elderly and non-drivers with recent public transport cuts.

Mr Basra has run the post office for 24 years and has no plans to stop, especially with the expected swell in population strengthening the need for core services.

He told the Mercury the firms' bosses had not done their research, and directed them to his musical stylings for a response.

"They should have looked on YouTube, I have some bhangra songs on there. One is about money and another is about honesty," he said.

"There is no amount of money that could make me move, Buntingford is more important.

"They are ruining Buntingford. All of these houses are being added, but they are taking all of the vital facilities away.

"I have a young grandchild growing up in the town now, and I am extremely worried about him.

"How are they expected to get to Ware if they do not have a car?"

Despite Mr Basra's strong refusal, Royal Mail stated talks are ongoing with various parties in the area, as it seeks an overhaul of its systems.

Giving little away, the firm promised customers would not be disappointed.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman, Sally Hopkins, said: "We are currently reviewing our delivery operations in Buntingford as there is significant development planned in the area over the next few years.

This will increase the number of delivery addresses in Buntingford and we need to have the facilities to be able to continue to provide a first-class service to our existing and future customers in Buntingford.

"We are looking at a number of options but no decisions have yet been made.

"We remain committed to continuing to provide the high-quality service that our customers in Buntingford expect and deserve."

The Post Office is shifting the way it operates across the county, as part of its network transformation scheme.

It did not to respond by the time of going to press.