By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
A Nottinghamshire town could lose a ‘vital lifeline’ if its Post Office is closed, local campaigners say.
The current Postmaster at the Stapleford town centre branch, in Derby Road, has resigned.
Broxtowe’s MP Darren Henry has written to Nick Read, CEO of Post Office Ltd, to express his concerns about the news.
He said: “The Post Office provides a vital lifeline for many people in the town, particularly those elderly and vulnerable customers, who use the facility for in-person banking.
“There are no remaining high street banks in Stapleford, making the Post Office the only place in the town centre for people to use.
“I would be grateful of assurances that Post Office Ltd is doing everything it can to ensure that the facility does not close and that a solution is found to this issue. Stapleford is a great town and has considerable potential as has been recognised by Government through the £21.1 million allocated in Towns Deal Funding.
“A proportion of this money has been used to support shops in the town centre and see the Post Office as being a key part of the town’s
high street.
“The value of retaining this facility in Stapleford cannot be understated and I am seriously concerned about the possibility that the Post Office will be closing later this month.”
He asked to meet with Mr Read at the earliest convenience.
Stapleford North councillor Richard MacRae (Ind) said he has set up a petition to ‘save the post office’.
He said: “It will leave the high street without any banks or a post office. It’s a blow to the community.
“We need someone to take it on as it is, or for another business to come forward.
“We’ve got a meeting coming up later this month and I have proposed that the town council asks if they can look into moving it into the town council building.
“There’s never not been a post office there. There is a need for it for other businesses and for that generation of people.
“If people go to other areas, they’ll shop in those areas so it’s not just the loss of the post office, it’s the loss of footfall.
“Stapleford is a brilliant town and we have investment coming in the future. In the meantime, let’s try to get someone taking on the post office.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “The temporary Postmaster for Stapleford has resigned and the branch is due to temporarily close on Tuesday 19 July. We know how important a Post Office is to a community and we are working hard to try to restore service as soon as possible.
“The vacancy is advertised on runapostoffice.co.uk and we would welcome applications from retailers. In the interim alternative branches include Sandiacre, Montrose Court and Bramcote.”
