Vow to fight PO closures (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Vow to fight PO closures

7:12am Wednesday 6th February 2008 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

COMMUNITIES in Mitton and Twyning have vowed to fight the proposed closures of their local post offices.

Around 200 residents gathered outside Twyning post office on Saturday morning.

There is a petition going around the village and a letter writing campaign is being planned.

Mitton residents are planning a meeting at the local primary school on Monday (Feb 11) at 7.30.

Sam Haycock of Twyning said that the closure will create tremendous problems for the elderly with Tewkesbury, 4 miles away their nearest post office "There is a very poor bus service between here and Tewksbury and the queues on benefits day are out on to the pavement," he said After 18 years the closure will be the end of the line for postmaster Rod Critch.

"Although the post office and shop are in the same building they are separate businesses. I will be out on my ear and looking for a job," he said.

Colin Dore of Mitton Post Office said the closure would really affect local people - especially as they were able to park right outside, making things easier for the less mobile, and for those with a lot of parcels to post.

Whilst tobacco, confectionary and newspaper sales will mean that he and his wife Shirley can continue, they will have to make their assistant John Brixey redundant.

"He has worked for us for 25 years, ever since he left school," he said.

One elderly lady, who has not been named, is particularly concerned because walking just under a mile to use Tewkesbury post office will mean leaving her blind husband on his own for longer periods.

Local resident Mary Butcher said: ""We are planning a massive protest.

"It is a centre of the community, they advertise local events in the windows and people, especially the elderly, use it a lot."