Confusion over post office future (From Wiltshire Times)

Confusion over post office future

4:29pm Friday 21st March 2008

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CONFUSION surrounded Lacock Post Office this week after a series of conflicting stories over its future.

Postmistress Emma Hands was informed on Wednesday that her High Street branch in the National Trust village would close for good, despite it undergoing a review.

The news prompted an angry response from North Wilts MP James Gray who said the hopes of villagers had been shattered after only a matter of weeks.

But Post Office Ltd denied the claim when contacted by the Chippenham News, saying a final decision had not been made.

The Lacock branch was selected for a replacement proposal by Post Office Ltd as part of its cutbacks announced in December.

A high-profile protest was organised, and the campaign received the backing of Dame Judi Dench, who filmed scenes for the period drama Cranford in the village.

The branch received a reprieve in February after Postwatch, the postal services watchdog, asked Post Office Ltd to think again.

Mrs Hands said news her branch would close after all was broken to her by parish council chairman Terry O'Neal, because he assumed she had already been told.

On contacting Post Office Ltd, she said she was told an email previously sent to her following the launch of the review period, which said the Post Office Ltd still earmarked the branch for closure, was a notification of their decision.

But inquiries made by the Chippenham News have led to both Postwatch and Post Office Ltd categorically stating that no decision has been made, and a review is ongoing.

Mrs Hands, who appeared on GMTV on Wednesday morning oblivious to the closure rumours, said: "You would assume that they would have told me I was going to be closed down first, but they instead rang the chair of the parish council on Monday to tell him.

"The camera crew arrived and we were all ready to put up a fight and then I heard.

"When I rang Post Office Ltd I was told that I had already been informed. The review period must have been a matter of minutes.

"We believed it was going to be over a couple of weeks."

MP Mr Gray said in a statement on Wednesday: "Having been given a glimmer of hope only two or three weeks ago, the people of Lacock and district have had their hopes shattered by the announcement that Lacock Post Office will close after all.

"Lacock Post Office not only serves the tens of thousands of visitors who come to the village every year but also a wider rural hinterland."

But a spokesman for Post Office Ltd told the Chippenham News: "No final decision has been announced on the future of the Lacock branch, which Post Office Ltd proposes to replace with an outreach solution.

"We are taking very careful account of all the views that have been expressed as any closure decision is always a difficult one."

Gary Hepburn, of Postwatch, also confirmed the review was still underway.

Mrs Hands, who ran the post office and shop with her husband Mike until he died in August 2007, said if the branch were to close, her future was uncertain.

"The village shop will not survive without the post office and if I was to restart a business I would have to get stock in for the summer trade now," she said.

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