Village P.O. set to close again

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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An ill-fated post office will be forced to close for the second time following the resignation of the sub-postmaster.

Fowlmere’s beleaguered sub-post office, which shut after the former sub-postmaster Graham Warnes was convicted of stealing more than £28,000 from the Royal Mail, briefly reopened at the Queen’s Head pub in Long Lane last March.

But its doors will close again on March 18 after the new sub-post master resigned for unknown reasons.

Disappointed local councillors urged residents to come forward and save the business again.

Tim Stone, who represents Fowlmere on Cambridgeshire County Council, said it was “a blow” to the village’s residents, who were hit by the closure of the nearby Thriplow post office and will now be forced to travel to Harston.

Cllr Stone told the Weekly News: “We are devastated at this news.

“The people who are most reliant on local post offices are the very people who do not have cars. It is a blow.

“It was a very good idea to put the office in the local pub and very sad that it doesn’t seem to have worked.

“It is terrible that this has happened again.”

He added: “Royal Mail have said it will close temporarily but do not say when it will re-open again.”

Jo Clasby, who runs the Queen’s Head with her husband Alan, said the staff had worked hard to help people collect pensions and benefits, access banking services, pay bills and send parcels, but had been hit by a lack of support from local residents.

Cllr Deborah Roberts, who represents the village on South Cambridgeshire District Council and is also chair of Fowlmere Parish Council, said it was a “use it or lose it” question for the residents.

She said: “The landlord was very kind to take this on and I am very disappointed as it looks like they did not give their support.”

A spokesperson from the Post Office apologised for the inconvenience and said:

“Customers can be assured that we will continue to work hard to find a solution that will provide a post office presence in the area.”

Fowlmere post office was one of more than 30 branches in Cambridgeshire forced to close the previous summer, among 2,500 sub-post offices which closed nationwide.

[NWpostie]

He must have realised what a non starter it was and very wisely gave it up.