MP's petition to stop closure of 'vital' Post Office

The Cosham Post Office is one of the 115 branches earmarked for closure

An MP has started a petition to try to save a "vital" Post Office which is at risk of closing.

Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North set up the petition for Cosham Post Office - one of up to 115 branches under threat as part of a shake-up of the business.

Describing the branch on High Street as "beloved and bustling", she said it was one of the few accessible places for residents to use for their banking.

Ms Martin said she planned to use the petition - which her office said had been signed by more than 700 people in three days - to urge Post Office Ltd to rethink the possible closure.

Amanda Martin MP says she will do everything possible to avoid the closure of the beloved branch

The Labour MP said it was "vital for local residents, and its potential closure would significantly impact our community"

One resident who responded to the petition said all three banks where they had accounts in Cosham High Street had already closed.

They said this meant they shopped using cash which they were able to withdraw from their bank account via the Post Office.

"The closure of this branch would be disastrous for us elderly people," they said.

Another retired pensioner who responded to Ms Martin's petition said they visited the Post Office "nearly every day" to top up their electric key.

They said: "Losing the Post Office would mean losing my daily routine of exercise and social interaction with others.

"The only alternative would be to rely on my phone which doesn't provide the same level of engagement."

Ms Martin said she planned to "do everything possible to prevent the closure of this beloved local branch".

Reacting to the possible closures across the south of England on Politics South, Olivia Bailey, Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, said: "The Post Office has got to change with the times like any other business and modernise too... but we've got to preserve that strong community connection and presence on the high street in my mind.

"Human contact is so important and the ability to go to your high street and go to the bank, or nip into your post office needs to be preserved."

Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, said Post Offices were "absolutely essential".

"Particularly for communities that live in more geographically remote places, like the Isle of Wight and small villages, as they provide services that have been withdrawn elsewhere," he added.