Post office row takes new turn

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THE row over the future location of a seaside town's post office has taken another turn as an MP claims bosses have 'added insult to injury'.

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop maintains the Post Office is ignoring the pleas of Saltburn residents as they move forward with their plans.

However, the Post Office maintains it has worked with residents to allay any concerns raised during a consultation process.

Mr Blenkinsop said: "A week ago, the Post Office told me that despite the fact ‘people with be inconvenienced’ they would be going ahead with the much disliked move from the existing Station Square post office to a new site on Windsor Road, which would be shared with the new Nisa mini-market store.


"Now, a further letter arrived which has added insult to injury. Originally, in their first letter the Post Office had promised a new pelican crossing on the busy Windsor Road as well as the relocation of bus stops, now the follow up letter merely reveals that this would be a ‘request’ to both Redcar and Cleveland Council and Arriva Buses to undertake these jobs.

"This is an utter nonsense. The council is cash strapped and has announced a moratorium on new borrowing for capital works and already has a waiting list of road improvements across the Borough, they just can't ‘put in a new crossing’ as the Post Office assumes they can do. Likewise, we have enough problems holding Arriva to their promises of running buses already - I fail to see them responding to a request from the Post Office to carry out a move of stops which would only benefit one trader.

"If the Post Office and Nisa are serious, they would finance and carry out these road improvements at their own cost, putting their money where their mouth is. All this has been a tawdry exercise on a move already, I am certain, tacitly agreed even before the self-styled ‘consultation’ was underway."

A Post Office spokesperson denied the consultation process was flawed and it was taking into consideration residents concerns.


She said: "The public consultation on the relocation of Saltburn-by-the-Sea Post Office ended on April 1, and all feedback received was considered. Following a public consultation a decision was made to proceed with the relocation. In situations where we move a Post Office, it is always the case that the new location will be more convenient for some customers than for others. To help support our customers, we have discussed pedestrian access with the new operator and he is happy to approach the local authority to see if they will consider providing a crossing point near their store.

"In addition, the new operator will engage with the local bus company to see if a bus stop can be provided closer to the new branch. We have also engaged with the appropriate authorities and enquired if any local community transport schemes could potentially assist the elderly and less able customers access the new branch in the near future.”