'Our post office was a lifeline, we want it back'

Catherine Burton uses a mobility scooter and is currently relying on family members to take her to the nearest post office, which is more than four miles away

The closure of a temporary post office branch three months ago has left people feeling “frustrated” and “lost” at the lack of a substitute.

With no bank and just two cash machines in Immingham, residents and businesses say they want their post office back.

Catherine Burton, 93, who uses a mobility scooter which limits her use of public transport, cannot pay bills or post parcels and said the service "is needed".

The Post Office said it is "working hard to restore the service".

A temporary post office had been operating out of the Civic Centre, in Pelham Road, since April after the roof collapsed at the former premises in Kennedy Way.

However, the temporary branch closed in June.

Ms Burton has been relying on family members to take her to the nearest post office, which is more than four miles away.

She said: “Like everybody, we want a post office in Immingham. How do all the businesses do their mail?”

Caroline Tuckley says the lack of a post office is "causing chaos at times"

Caroline Tuckley, who works at Titus Newsome, which specialises in moving abnormal loads across the UK, needs plenty of loose change for their drivers to use on bridge tolls.

"It is causing chaos at times," she said. "We can't get the cash we need.

“We still have customers who pay us by cheque, well where do we pay that in? Because we haven't got the banks either.

"We have to go into the next town to pay them in, which could be two or three weeks before we can get that opportunity."

Ms Tuckley said the issue had become the talk of the town, with discussions on social media pages about how disabled and elderly people manage.

"They have to rely on favours and neighbours trying to be helpful,” she added.

Ann Turner says with no banks and now no post office, the people of Immingham have been left frustrated

Another resident, Ann Turner, also had concerns for the wider community having to travel further afield to use a post office elsewhere.

She said: “I'm 55 so I can drive a car but you're talking about pensioners as well.

"They've got to catch the bus, which means as the colder weather is coming it’s going to get worse for them to catch the bus, wait for it and then come back.

"Having a local post office was a lifeline. We had six banks at one point now we've got none. And now we've got no post office.

"It’s hard and frustrating for us and I think everyone feels the same - we want our post office back."

Brigg and Immingham MP Martin Vickers said he had received a number of calls about the issue and his office, along with Immingham Town Council, had spoken to the Post Office to try and get a local branch back up and running.

Expressions of interest

Meanwhile, the Post Office, which is owned by the government, said it was currently exploring options.

A spokesperson said: "There are three retailers who all want to open a permanent post office in Immingham.

"We are considering their applications to see which is the best option. We know how important a post office is to a community and we are working hard to restore service as soon as possible after the temporary branch regrettably closed.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the unplanned closure."

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.