HUNDREDS of signatures have been gathered as part of a campaign to save and move a village post office.
Diane Crossley has put together a business plan for the relocation of Gainford Post Office, which is due to close at High Green next Thursday, July 19. The postmistress of 39 years, Anne Pratt, suffered a stroke in May and is unable to return to work.
Ms Crossley has worked alongside Ms Pratt as office manager for five years and now wants to take it on herself in another building. She said: “I know Anne fought, for the five years that I worked with her, to keep the post office going for the community. Now that Anne is poorly I would like to take on that fight.”
Ms Crossley launched a petition two weeks ago which gained 214 signatures in the first week alone. Messages have included “Please save the post office” with many describing the amenity as “essential” and “invaluable” .
Ms Crossley has proposed that the post office could be moved to the former home of St Osmund’s Pre-School on Main Road. Alongside the usual post office services, the idea is that there would be an internet cafe offering access to the web for people who don’t have it at home and printing services.
Stationary, greetings cards, confectionary and hot and cold drinks would also be on sale. Ms Crossley also believes it could be an ideal venue for crafts groups to meet. The work of local artists would also be on display.
Ms Crossley said: “I have been told that I can use the building, but it is about convincing the Post Office now.
“I am trying to save the facility but I have to try to think outside the box and create a business that is going to create footfall for the Post Office. I have sent them a business plan. There is a lot of through traffic that doesn’t know we even have a post office so it is an ideal spot. We would get a lot more through trade and it is easily accessible with a car park on site.”
Residents rely on the post office for pensions, cash withdrawals, car tax, phone top-ups, electric and gas payments, bill payments, banking, stamps and parcels.
Ms Crossley said: “I am doing this for the community. To have no post office would be such a loss to the village. There are many people who rely on it and don’t want to drive to Barnard Castle or Darlington. Businesses in the village do their banking here.
“We have recently had 156 parcels dropped off by Parcel Force because they couldn’t be delivered. If the post office wasn’t here, people would have to drive to the depot in Middlesbrough to get their parcels.”
Ms Crossley is expecting to find out whether her business plan will be accepted in the next four to 12 months.
She added: “People have been walking in to the post office just to sign the petition. It means a lot to a lot of people.
“I am hopeful that if I fight my corner we will get something. I have got the support of the community behind me.”
A Post Office spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to our customers for any inconvenience this [the closure] might cause.
“We’re working hard to find alternative solutions to maintain services in the area, as we know how important post office services are to communities and will of course keep our customers updated with our progress.”
