Post Office Update

Sadly, we are rounding off the year with no positive news to relate about getting a Post Office re-opened in Audlem. Despite pleas from the Parish Council, the Leader of Cheshire East Council and our MP

PostOffice Limited have admitted that they are no nearer resolving this issue than they were in April. As far as Audlem's residents are concerned, Post Office Ltd is spectacularly failing in the task set by government described in the Entrustment letter below which states that 95% of the population should be within 3 miles of a Post Office.
Click Here for the Entrustment letter

Audlem's community has been badly hit by the closure of the Post Office as it has reduced footfall in the village and consequently other businesses have suffered a downturn in trade. With more homes soon coming to the village it is essential that this vital service is once again available to our residents.

The Parish Council proposed a number of alternative premises which may be available to host an Outreach Post Office and suggested they approach local Postmasters to run the service. It appears that Post Office Ltd had not done anything to move this forward this despite their claims that they were doing everything possible to resume a local service.

However, there is a small sign that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. Last week their Field Manager made contact with the Council to apologise for the delays and explain the internal processes that have to be gone through before even searching for a site for an Outreach service. She is going to approach the various halls and businesses mentioned by the Parish Council and try to identify a suitable, easily accessible site. Post Office Ltd. then need to find a Core business (a main Post Office business which does Outreach services already) to take on the Outreach sessions. If this option fails, they will look at suitable Post Offices in the area who do not currently have an Outreach

Unfortunately Post Offices run in this way are not normally open 6 days per week; more usually it is a two or three day service. A meeting will be set up between the Field Manager and Parish Councillors early in January at which it will be made very clear that a return to full PO services is the ultimate goal.

Parish Councillors and our MP will continue their pressure on Post Office Ltd to make strenuous and visible efforts to live up to its obligations to ensure that Audlem once again has the Post Office service it needs to remain a thriving community.

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