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Minister joins fight to save Chatham Road Post Office
A GOVERNMENT minister has stepped in to help a campaigning councillor keep up the fight to save her local post office.
Coun Mary Fleet, of the Dyke House ward, Hartlepool, has been lobbying ministers to help her save the Raby Estate post office, in Chatham Road, which is one of three in town earmarked for closure.
The Post Office is undergoing a re-structuring process, which will see 2,500 offices close nationwide in a bid to cut losses which topped 200m last year.
Coun Fleet, with the help of Hartlepool MP Iain Wright, lobbied Pat McFadden, the Government minister with responsibility for Post Offices.
In response, he has written to Alan Cook, managing director of the Post Office, highlighting her concerns.
Coun Fleet said: "The Chatham Road post office is a vital part of the Dyke House community. It would be a terrible loss for residents, especially the elderly."
"The nearest post office would be too far away for most elderly residents and it would involve a dangerous walk, which is just not right."
"I ensured that this particular branch was brought to the attention of ministers and that they were made aware of the devastating effect the closure could have for Dyke House residents.
"As a result, Mr McFadden has personally written to the Post Office highlighting my concerns. I just hope they listen.
"I am willing to do anything that helps because the Raby Estate post office is vital to this area. If it closes it will put an enormous amount of pressure on other sites in town."
More than 5,000 people signed the Mail's Protect Your Post Office petition with people of all ages joining forces to save the service.
Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart Drummond – who helped launch the campaign – said: "Anything that can be done to try and save the post office branches under threat is more than welcome.
"I'm pleased with the way the campaign has gone. I was hoping for more people to voice their concerns at the public meetings but that doesn't hide the strength of feeling from people in the town.
"These are vital services and we will continue the fight as best we can."
The other two threatened with closure are Elwick Road Post Office, in Elwick Road and HartPost Office, in Hart.
Hutton Henry Post Office, in Front Street, Hutton Henry, and two in Billingham, the Cowpen Estate, in Cowpen Lane, and Wolviston Court, in Clifton Avenue are also on the proposed closure list.
A six-week public consultation period into the proposed changes closed last month and a final decision is expected within a couple of weeks, although there will be no closures before June this year.
The proposed closures in Hartlepool come under the area plan for Cleveland, South Durham and Richmond.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Light rain
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