HANDS OFF OUR POST OFFICE.
Published on 27/03/2008 in Evening Mail
HANDS off our Post Office.
The message could not have been clearer for John Hutton MP and the government as 350 people crammed into Greenodd’s community hall in an amazing display of support for the village’s threatened branch.
Last night’s meeting had to be delayed by 20 minutes to get everyone inside out of the rain, and there weren’t enough chairs to go round.
Some protesters lined the walls and others were forced to use the stage. Among the supporters was South Lakes MP Tim Farron.
The village had never seen anything like it.
Business Secretary MrJohn Hutton, the MP for Barrow and Furness, had targeted 35 branches in the region for closure, with Greenodd being one of them.
The plan is to replace it with an outreach service in the form of a mobile van.
Sub postmasters Lloyd and Janet Willis are now leading the fight to keep their counter open.
Opening last night’s meeting, Mrs Willis said: “I can’t believe it. I want to thank everyone who has turned out on such a wet night. The
purpose of this meeting was to gauge the amount of support we have. We have been here five-and-a-half years and have loved every minute of it, and we’ll do everything we can to keep the post office going. We are hoping that people will come forward and organise a steering committee to take this forward.
“I think the time has come and we have now got to be prepared to put a lot of effort in.”
Thunderous applause throughout Mrs Willis’ speech revealed the determination of the villagers.
Ideas put forward included protest marches, petitions, letters and creating banners around Greenodd.
Another suggestion was to boycott other post offices in the area, including Ulverston, by not purchasing foreign currency or insurance.
Proposals include protest marches, petitions, boycotting other post offices and letters and banners around Greenodd.
Mr Farron believes Greenodd Post Office can be saved and said: “It is going to have to be a community push if we are going to get them to change their minds. I think we are in with a super chance of keeping this one open, but it will need the efforts of all of you.”
Supporters of Greenodd Post Office are set to meet again next month. Organisers are planning to invite a representative of Post Office Ltd.