Post Office Limited has today (July 8) announced the names and locations of the 26 offices in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that are expected to close in the autumn and also unveiled plans to introduce 12 alternative outreach services.
Publication of the list triggers a public consultation period during which members of the public and community groups and organisations will have a chance to put forward reasons to keep their local office open. The consultation runs until August 26, 2008.
The offices recommended for closure are as follows, with details of the alternative outreach services in brackets.
Cambridge City (no alternative outreach services proposed)
- 33 Regent Street
- 2a Trumpington Street
- St John’s Post Office, Hills Road
Huntingdonshire
- Great Stukeley, Church Road
- Catworth, High Street (mobile service, 5 hours a week)
- Great Gransden, Fox Street (partnership with retailer, same location)
- Great Gidding, Main Street (mobile service, 8 hours a week)
- Holme, Station Road (mobile service, 8 hours a week)
- Ramsey St Mary, High Street (partnership with retailer, same location)
- Earith, High Street (partnership at Riverview Hotel)
South Cambridgeshire
- Grantchester, Stulpfield Road
- Fen Drayton, High Street
- Impington, Station Road
- Arrington, Hardwick Arms, Ermine Way (hosted outreach service at same location, 2 hours a week)
- Elsworth, The Causeway (hosted outreach at Sport Club, 5 hours a week)
- Over, High Street (mobile service, 15 hours a week)
East Cambridgeshire
- Soham, Hall Street
- Ely, St John’s Road
- Little Downham, Main Street (mobile service, 15 hours a week)
Fenland
- Wisbech, Harecroft Road
- March, St Peter’s Road
- Christchurch, Church Road (mobile service, 5 hours a week)
- Benwick, High Street (hosted outreach a Five Alls Pub, 3 hours a week)
Peterborough (no alternative outreach services proposed)
- Woodston, Oundle Road
- New England, Lincoln Road
- West Town, Mayors Walk
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Post Office Network Change Group (CPONCG) which brings together the County Council, Peterborough City Council, the five District Councils, Postwatch East, Cambridgeshire ACRE and business and rural community support partners, has been working behind the scenes to ensure that Post Office Limited had all the relevant information on the nature and needs of communities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, in advance of the closure announcement.
CPONCG is now encouraging all Cambridgeshire and Peterborough communities affected by the proposed closure of their Post Office to make their views known during the consultation.
CPONCG Chairman, County Councillor Fred Yeulett, said: “Much work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure that Post Office Limited’s list of closures was informed by as much information as possible on the nature and needs of all Cambridgeshire and Peterborough communities, including potential future housing growth, levels of deprivation and any relevant transport issues.”
Posters will be circulated to all communities on the closure list published by Post Office Limited with details of how the public can respond. Information is also available on the Post Office website using the link on the right, by telephone on 08457 22 33 44 or by post at: National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team.
Peterborough City Councillor Graham Murphy added: “Now the list has been made public it is vitally important that local communities respond and they need to take this opportunity to have their say during the consultation. This is the last and only chance for people to have any input to the final closure decisions.”
Councillor Mike Simpson, deputy leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “Post Offices provide essential services, particularly in a predominantly rural area like ours. Many of their customers are people in the older age range who find it difficult to travel to the towns.
“Now we know which Post Offices are on the list it is vitally important that communities make their voices heard as loudly as possible. We as a district council, along with our many partners, will do all we can to minimise the impact of any closures on businesses and the wider communities.”
For more advice and information you can visit the website using the Cambridgeshire Acre website using the link on the right.