Post Office closures 'threat to residents'

Kendal and Barrow Post Offices are at risk of closure

Closing two post offices in Cumbria would be a "significant threat to residents", councillors have said as they called on the government to intervene "with urgency".

Post offices in Kendal and Barrow were among 115 across the UK announced in November as being at risk of being axed.

Westmorland and Furness Councillor Eamonn Hennessy noted that half of Barrow's banks had also closed since 2015, while "similar challenges" were being faced in Kendal.

The council approved a motion calling on Post Office Ltd to pause its plans to close what the local authority described as "important, vital community hubs".

'Vital community hubs'

At Thursday's council meeting, Dyan Jones brought forward the motion to instruct the council's chief executive to write to Post Office bosses.

Her motion said the council was "disappointed" by Post Office Ltd's plans, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"Crown Post Offices, in Kendal and Barrow-in-Furness, provide important, vital community hubs and many local residents rely on their services," it read.

"For Post Office Ltd to announce the threat of closure without consultation with these local communities is of concern to us as councillors elected to represent them."

Mr Hennessy said the move posed a "significant threat to residents particularly in the light of the ongoing loss of high street banks in both areas".

Councillor Anne Burns added that the Barrow post office could "become a real hub if it just put its mind to actually thinking what other services could go in to there".

'Review'

The Post Office is looking at options for its wholly owned branches, which currently employ about 1,000 workers and are loss-making.

These could include alternative franchise arrangements.

The company said it would "review all responses, sharing the results with relevant trade unions and other stakeholders".

Since the announcement, thousands have signed a petition against plans to close Kendal's Post Office.

Liberal Democrat Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who launched the petition, previously said he was "deeply alarmed" by the closure threat.