Post Offices in despair (From Gazette & Herald)

Post Offices in despair

12:51pm Wednesday 28th November 2007

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IAN and Kate Hughes, who run the post office at Terrington, bravely decided to carry on their business in the heart of the village community following a frightening robbery.

This week they have spoken of their anger and disappointment at being earmarked for closure in the sweeping cuts announced by the Post Office.

Patricia Hands ploughed £35,000 of her own money into upgrading the post office she runs in Church Street, Norton. Now she just feels let down.

In Hawnby the Leemings have invested time, energy and money in building a business and a life for themselves. They have invested in a generator to ensure the service keeps going, and opened a tea room for walkers and tourists. "This is how we have been repaid," said Darren.

Across Ryedale the people who run post offices are reeling from the news that their businesses are being pulled from under them, and communities are shocked that such a basic service is being scrapped. Yes, you can buy stamps at the supermarket. Yes, you can have your pensions and benefits paid direct into the bank. But you can't get cash from a computer, you can't post a parcel at a postbox.

The powers-that-be have said some areas will be served by outreach services - a mobile office which will do the rounds. But these closures are condemning village shops to death in many cases. These shops are a lifeline, a focal point of the community, where news is exchanged, friendships forged, a sense of belonging is instilled and hopefully, a loud opposition to these cuts is begun.

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