Mystery of Post Office closure leaves customers without vital services

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There has been no detailed explanation as to why the Post Office has been closed all week

Ely's Post Office on Market Place was closed for three days this week without warning.

Customers were left outside on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (January 16-18) unable to use vital Post Office services, including rent, council tax services and passport renewals.

Those with Post Office card accounts,who rely on the service to collect their state pensions and tax credit payments, were also left out in the cold.

Others who rely on the service, which is the only branch in the city, to send parcels were also affected.

Ely resident Sarah Mascall said:“I didn’t know it was closed until I saw the note in the window. I had a parcel to send to a family member for their birthday and had to stick extra stamps on, put it in the post box and just hope for the best.”

“A mum came in with a great big pushchair and I nearly said something to save her from coming in. It could have well have been she was struggling down there to do some business.

"It's such a shame and very short sighted of them. Originally we had two very good post offices in Ely, since then its just been shunted around the place.”

A handwritten note in the window on Monday said the closure was due to “problems with locks” and it would reopen the next day.

But on Tuesday both the Post Office and the branch of Cost Cutter it is attached to were shut, with a new note stating it was “due to a technical fault”.

When contacted, a Post Office spokeswoman recommended people use alternative branches in Witchford and Little Downham, three miles away.

Deputy mayor and East Cambridgeshire district councillor David Hobbs said: “It’s not satisfactory that they say they have a ‘technical issue’ when people’s lives depend on this service.

“One can be slightly forgiving if they have a problem for 24 hours but it’s totally unforgivable to go on any longer than that.

“If you are pensioner and you rely on your pension to survive it’s not good enough. I feel for those poor people who came to get their money and the hardship they must be suffering – it’s a terrible service and not very community minded at all.”

The branch has been without a postmaster for eight months and a note in the window is advertising vacancies for three new members of staff.

The Post Office recommend using alternative branches in nearby Witchford and Little Downham.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “Ely Post Office has been closed yesterday and today (January 16-17) due to operational reasons.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers.

"We are working hard to restore Post Office service to the current location as quickly as possible.”