Post office rescued after campaign?

A WARRINGTON post office looks to have been rescued from closure following a campaign by local residents.
Folly Lane Post Office – due to close following the retirement of the postmaster – is to stay open pending negotiations for it to be relocated in a new Spar shop currently under construction opposite Warrington Hospital in Lovely Lane.
Warrington South Prospective Parliamentary candidate Coun Jo Crotty (pictured) is hailing the news as a victory for local people.
But a Royal Mail spokesman would only confirm that negotiations were in progress.
He said: “What we are intending to do is relocate Folly Lane Post Office to the new store. But negotiations are still going on so we cannot say it is yet definite.”
Sankey Green Post Office, in Lovely Lane, closed earlier this year as part of a controversial government initiative to reduce the number of post offices across the country.
There was massive opposition from local residents but the closure went ahead.
Then it was revealed that the Folly Lane Post Office was to close due to the postmaster’s retirement.
Coun Crotty said: “Residents were worried they were losing Folly Lane Post Office as well this month and would have no local access to postal services.
“But the community never gave up. They signed our petitions and they supported me in my efforts to have Lovely Lane Post Office re-opened once it became clear the only other branch in the area was due to close as well.
“Residents should congratulate themselves for the work they have put in.”
Coun Crotty stressed, however, that there is still much to be done.
She said: “We have won this battle but we have not won the war. Up until this year we had two post offices serving the residents of Bewsey and Whitecross. Although this is a victory, it only means that we keep one post office. Labour’s closures mean many people across Warrington now struggle with longer journeys to their local post office.
“Labour has still closed 20 post offices in Warrington since 1999. We have gone from having 49 branches to 29. In Bewsey and Whitecross it is important we remember that we are not gaining a new branch but we are merely keeping our already reduced service.
“Unfortunately, too many people who do not drive or who are elderly or disabled will still have to make the unfair and costly trip to the town centre post office.”