Post Office closure in Neston

The battle to bring back Post Office facilities to Neston town centre goes on, says a defiant local MP.

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, says a year has passed by since the closure of post office facilities in Neston town centre but he is still hopeful that an owner will come forward who is prepared to incorporate a Post Office counter into their business.

More than 1,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for a Post Office to be reinstated in Neston.

Mr Madders used the weekly Business Questions in Parliament to highlight the issue once more.

He said: “Almost a year ago to the day the Post Office announced that Neston Post Office was to be closed, but that it would be a temporary closure while it found a commercial partner.

“I warned at the time that that would be a tough ask, and lo and behold, a year on, the Post Office has announced this week that because it has not been able to find a commercial partner, the Post Office will close permanently.”

He added: “A town of Neston’s size, with 20,000 people, should have a Post Office and it is unacceptable that the Post Office continues with these flawed business models where they rely on commercial support that clearly is not there.

“Can we have a statement from the relevant Government Minister about what they will do to ensure that the Post Office can serve all communities?”

In reply Mark Spencer MP, leader of the House of Commons, told Mr Madders: “I am sorry to hear about Neston Post Office. Post offices are great community assets.

“The Government set access criteria to ensure services remain within reach of all citizens. I think 99 per cent of the UK population is within three miles of a Post Office outlet. It is a great resource.

“It is obviously a shame that Neston Post Office will not reopen, but we should celebrate all that is positive about post offices up and down the country.”

In a letter to Mr Madders’ constituents, Karl A Haddon, Post Office Services network provision lead, said: “As  you  may  be  aware, Neston Post  Office  closed  last  year due  to the resignation of the postmaster and withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use. Since then we have been exploring our options for restoring a Post Office service to our customers in the area.

“A member of the field team has also personally visited the area, but so far we  have received no interest or formal applications for the position. Unfortunately, we have therefore been unable to identify a suitable solution and I’m writing to you and other local representatives to advise you that as there have been no suitable opportunities to re-establish a service, this branch will remain closed.

“We  would of course  consider  any  appropriate  options if  there are any  significant  changes in the area in the future. However due to the length of time the branch has been closed, we would need to satisfy ourselves that any new opportunity would be sustainable for both Post Office Ltd and the operator.

“We regret that we  have been unable to restore a service  locally.”

Customers are advised by the Post Office to visit alternative facilities at:

Little Neston Post Office at 1 Town Lane, CH64 4DE

Thornton Hough Outreach, the Village Hall, Manor Road, CH63 1JD

Brimstage Road Post Office, 109-113 Brimstage Road, Heswall, CH60 1XF

Pictured - Neston Post Office.