MP vents frustration at proposed post office move

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AN MP has criticised the Post Office for not listening to residents over plans to move its town centre location.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop claims bosses have a "wilful neglect of public opinion" over the consultation of a proposed move of the town's post office, presently sited in the town's Station Square, to a new alternative location well distant of the shopping centre.

In a letter sent to the MP, the Post Office say they recognise that the move to co-location with convenience store Nisa, sited on the town's Windsor Road "will cause inconvenience" but that the move will go ahead.


Mr Blenkinsop said: "Over the past couple of months, the now privatised Post Office have been carrying out a so-called consultation on this possible move.

"In that time, apart from Nisa themselves, I have not met a single person from the town or any user of the town as a shopping centre who was in favour of this move. Despite that, the move will go ahead.

"This will inconvenience many local people, not least the elderly who could be faced with having to combine their shopping trip with an unwanted trek down Windsor Road. It will damage trade for the rest of the town's shops and it will put back local regeneration efforts."

"I would challenge the Post Office to give a full break down of the results and to ask what the balance of views received was. I can guess what they were.”

The date for the relocation has yet to be confirmed. Posters will be displayed inside the present Saltburn Post Office in Front Street to advise customers of when the move will take place.

Post Office regional manager Suzanne Richardson said: “We have carefully considered our original proposal and the feedback received during the local public consultation period, along with the impact on local residents and the wider community.

"Having also reviewed pedestrian and vehicular access to the new site, are satisfied that the new branch is suitably located and that this new way of offering Post Office services will continue to meet customer needs, whilst helping to provide long term viability and future sustainability for Post Office service provision in the local community.”

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Tom Blenkinsop’s voting in Parliament
Tom Blenkinsop is a Labour MP, and on the vast majority of issues votes the same way as other Labour MPs.


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