Britwell trade hit by loss of post office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A BUSINESS owner fears her company will go bust if the area she trades in is left without a post office for an extended period of time.

Susan Maguire, owner of Gem's Flowers in Wentworth Avenue, Britwell, believes the loss of the post office at the parade of stores - closed on Tuesday, September 4 - is severely damaging business in the area.

The concerns come after Slough Borough Council said it could be another three months until another postmaster takes over the service.

The council has put on free shuttle buses which run to the post office in Burnham High Street at 10am and 2pm from Wentworth Avenue, but the store owner believes this is also having a negative effect on business in the area.

Mrs Maguire, who has been based at the parade for five years, said: "It is helping people get to Burnham and the post office, but it is not helping us and other traders here. It is a big problem, especially as my goods have to be replenished every two days or so.

"The post office closing has made a huge difference as there are so few people around. I want to see if I can get some financial help from somewhere to help me out."

Although a candidate has been identified by Slough Borough Council to take over the Post Office, approval process is still yet to be cleared by the candidate.

A council spokeswoman said: "At the most it should be three months, but we are encouraging them to be as fast as possible as we want to open the new post office as fast as possible. We have got to the stage where we as a council have done everything we can."

The council are hopeful their chosen candidate will make it swiftly through the approval stage as he is already a postmaster at another post office.

The successful candidate will be in charge of the post office at 53 Wentworth Avenue, rent-free and fully equipped, by the council.

[Lounge Lizard]

Hasn't Susan Maguire, owner of Gem's Flowers in Wentworth Avenue, considered installing a Post Office counter in her own shop ?