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Closing dates for axed post offices revealed
CLOSING dates for six doomed post offices have been announced as part of a nationwide restructure of the service.
Three branches in Hartlepool, one in east Durham and two in Billingham will all close next month, despite attempts by campaigning residents to keep them open.
The Post Office has been tasked by Government to close 2,500 offices by the end of the year which would leave around 11,500 branches nationwide.
Post Office bosses have announced that the Raby Estate Post Office, in Chatham Road, Hartlepool, will close its doors for good on Tuesday, July 1.
The other town post offices affected, Elwick Road Post Office, in Elwick Road, and Hart Post Office, in Hart village, will both close on Friday, July 4.
The two post offices affected in Billingham, the Cowpen Estate, in Cowpen Lane, and Wolviston Court, in Clifton Avenue, will close on Wednesday, July 2.
Hutton Henry Post Office, in Front Street, Hutton Henry will close on Thursday, July 3. The re-structuring process is needed to help cut losses which topped 200m last year, say bosses.
Around 5,000 people signed the Mail's petition to save those under threat, but following a public consultation postal chiefs decided to press ahead with closures.
Allan Barclay, 54, from Leyburn Street, Hartlepool, featured in the Mail after gathering support from councillors and residents to save the Elwick Road post office.
Allan, who was medically discharged from the Army after 25 years service, believes his local post office is the ideal model and should be saved to provide services.
Mr Barclay said: "Elwick Road is unique because it fits the criteria outlined by the Post Office in as much as it is situated in a very busy Co-Op store and is staffed by Co-Op personnel and even comes complete with its own security guard.
"This in essence is the same model that Post Office demonstrated at their presentation at both public meetings when they spoke about the future of Post Offices. If they can make this work I cannot see why we can't."
There was a suggestion that outreach services could be introduced in those areas affected, however, it has been confirmed there are no plans for such a service in Hartlepool.
A Post Office spokesman said: "Those branches will close on that day. There are no plans to introduce out reach facilities to replace those branches closing and the decision is final. The proposals deemed that there was enough post office provision in the area and people should use alternative branches."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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