Chris Chope to ask government to intervene over Christchurch's lack of post office

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CHRISTCHURCH MP Chris Chope has raised the issue of the town's lack of post office in Parliament.

Tabling a question to the secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, Greg Clark, Mr Chope asked if he would take steps to reinstate post office services in Christchurch town centre.

He also enquired if there was a maximum period a post office could be closed temporarily without the need for any public consultation.

The town centre post office, which was based in Church Street, closed earlier this year when the director liquidated the company as it was no longer deemed financially viable.


There were also fears over the future of the Post Office in Highcliffe, due to a potential development of flats and shops.

The proposal for Lymington Road means the current postmaster will not renew his lease.

But Hoburne Ltd, whose sister company Burry and Knight have put forward the proposal, said a post office is "vital to the High Street, especially with the loss of banks over recent years."

Replying to Mr Chope, under secretary Margot James said: "The Government requires Post Office to meet national access criteria to ensure proximity to customers.

"Within that criteria, the provision and location of post offices is the operational responsibility of Post Office Limited.

"There are two other Post Office branches located one mile away - Purewell Cross and Stourvale - from which customers can access a wide range of services until a suitable solution is found.

"Both branches offer extended opening hours with the Stourvale branch being open from 6am to 11pm, seven days a week.

"The Post Office regrets instances where a post office is forced to close temporarily, however a temporary closure is normally the result of a situation beyond the control of the Post Office.

"There is no maximum time set to resolve a temporary closure and the time this can take will vary depending on the individual local circumstances in each case.


"The Post Office continues to investigate and explore solutions which will enable it to restore the provision of services to the Christchurch community as soon as possible."

Mr Chope said: " I am pursuing further the gap in the regulation which will also now affect Highcliffe residents, following the closure of the post office in Lymington Road."