Co-op explains why another peninsula post office will operate reduced hours
By Derek Davis
20th Aug 2020 | Local News
Post Office hours are to be cut at Holbrook's Co-op store in a bid to ensure the service can be maintained long term, an East of England Co-operative spokesperson has confirmed.
The Post Office counter will be closed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and operate reduced hours on Wednesdays, as from Tuesday, September 1.
Villagers have expressed their anger at the closures and are looking to organise a petition, and send letters to the East of England Co-op, the Post Office and MP James Cartlidge.
A spokesperson for the East of England Co-op, said: "Over the past year we have been looking carefully at how we can best provide Post Office services for our communities.
"There is still clearly a need for a face-to-face service, so having analysed each of our Post Office branches, we have begun amending opening hours to ensure we continue to meet the needs of the community, while remaining financially sustainable.
"We are taking these steps now to help secure their long-term future and we will continue to review and adjust as needed."
Parish council chairman John Ambrose has vowed to fight the closure and has called on other parish councils to support them.
Mr Ambrose said in a statement: "This will deprive both the village, the local community and local businesses of post office services on these days.
"It will also impact on the vulnerable members of the local who rely on the post office for easy access to banking and postal services, often unable to travel to other branches easily.
"Holbrook Parish Council will be writing to the Coop expressing their concerns, with a copy to James Cartlidge. Hopefully other parish councils will too."
The rescued hours follows the decision by the Co-op to close the Post Office counter at its Brantham branch last year, with villagers now only able to access Post Office services on a Wednesday afternoon at the village hall.
The new Holbrook Post Office opening hours from August 31 will be:
Monday: 9.00 – 12.30 and 13.30 – 18.00Wednesday: 10.00 – 14.00
Friday: 9.00 – 12.30 and 13.30 – 17.00Saturday: 10.00 – 12.30
The branch is closed Tuesdays and Thursdays and also Sundays.
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