Neston residents left without post office for fortnight

Aug 13 2008 By Lorna Hughes

A COUNCILLOR has hit out at Post Office chiefs after Neston residents were temporarily left without their post office.

Neston and Parkgate country councillor David Andrews says users were shocked to discover the facility in Neston Town Hall, in Neston High Street, would be closed from last week until this Friday because the postmasters were on holiday.

The nearest alternative post office is in nearby Little Neston - but Cllr Andrews believes Neston’s elderly residents and those without cars have been hit hard by the temporary closure.

He told the News: “It’s absolutely scandalised people around here because it was only a few months ago that Parkgate Post Office closed.

“In Neston we have an ageing population that depends on the services offered by the post office and I’m amazed this has been allowed to happen.

“For a lot of people it isn’t that easy just to go to Little Neston instead.

“I contacted Cheshire County Council and they asked the Post Office about it - I’ve been told they did have someone in place as holiday relief but unfortunately that person broke an arm.

“We were planning to sort out transport to other post offices for people who needed it but originally we were told it would be open again by the weekend.”

Parkgate Post Office was the only branch in the borough to be affected by post office cuts in February affecting Cheshire, Wirral and other parts of the North West.

Staff at Neston Town Hall confirmed this week that the post office would re-open on Friday.

Post Office Ltd had not supplied a comment at the time of going to press.

l Essential maintenance work will affect Neston Town Hall later this month.

From Monday, August 18, the reception service will move to the Blackwell Building at the back of the Town Hall.

All borough council services will operate from the Blackwell Building for approximately ten weeks.

Access to the post office will remain from the front of the Town Hall.