Ribbleton residents hit out at closures

AS POST OFFICES continue to close in Preston, how are the residents who depend on them reacting? JONATHAN SAUNDERS went to Ribbleton to get the local reaction to the closing of Acregate Lane Post Office.

ACREGATE Lane Post Office should not be shut, according to Ribbleton’s residents.

The post office, which is where Acregate Lane meets Ribbleton Avenue, is one of 11 to close in total in the Preston area as 58 are closing across Lancashire.

Residents have spoken out against the decision that would see Acregate Post Office close on April 30.

Mr Goodwin of Braefield Crescent, Ribbleton, who uses a mobility scooter, said: "I think it’s scandalous. The nearest one to us now is Newell Lane. There are still two there. If I didn’t have my chair, I’d have to get someone to help me."

Mrs Fox, of Tennyson Road, added: "It’s not safe going elsewhere. Everybody knows what you’re queuing for. The one we have is ideal. It’s stupid having none near Acregate Lane.

"It’s going to take me three-quarters of an hour to go there now, instead of my usual 10 minutes."

Adrian Southworth, 74, of Longworth Street, Ribbleton said: "I’ve lived here for 74 years and I can never remember it without a post office. It’s part of the social life and society."

Ibrahim Choham, 68, a Ribbleton resident for 40 years said: "It’s very bad. We use it every week. It’s been here a long time so we are very sad."

Martin Elson, 28, a civil servant from Thornton Cleveleys, condemned the regional closures: "I don’t think any should be shut. It’s a local service. The government provides services and that’s why we pay taxes. Labour have squandered our money."

The government has kept some postal duties in Lancashire by handing them to village halls and churches in Chipping and the Calder Vale near Preston, Glasson Dock near Lancaster and Quernmore in Lancaster.

The closures are set to finish on May 12 with the closure of Bolton Road Post Office, Chorley and Churchtown Post Office, The Green, Churchtown.

The decision to close adjust the post office system has come after government figures show the service to be losing £4million a week.

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