The Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council will write to the boss of the Post Office to demand the branch in Morecambe town centre is spared from closure.
In November it was revealed that Morecambe town centre's branch on Victoria Street is on a list of 115 loss making post offices earmarked for possible closure, in a radical shake-up to stabilise its finances.
The branches listed are what’s known as ‘crown’ branches – ones that are owned and operated directly by the Post Office rather than under agreements with subpostmasters.
At the latest full County Council meeting, Morecambe South County Cllr Charlie Edwards described Morecambe as ‘a diamond in the rough’ and crucial for the community it serves, as he put forward a notice of motion calling for a rethink.
Cllr Edwards said: ‘’Morecambe has survived better than others, and has a shopping precinct with more occupied units than empty ones.
‘’Morecambe Business Improvement District manager John O’Neill’s describes the post office as playing a vital role in keeping people connected in a time when we are increasingly becoming disconnected.
“It’s a huge driver of footfall into the town, creating loads of jobs and supporting cash businesses such as pubs, cafes and charity shops.''
“Yes, of course you can go online to do your banking – but if you’re a pub and you run out of pound coins and you open in half an hour, there’s nowhere you can order that online.
“The post office picks up what the banks leave behind.
“The back of the building is the Royal Mail sorting office, so it won’t be able to be sold for very much, or attract much rent from a tenant, so we’ll still have an empty building, still paying for it to be maintained.’’
Following a debate, the members of Lancashire County Council voted unanimously for the authority to write to the Post Office’s chief executive to demand that the branches in Morecambe, as well as in nearby Poulton-le-Fylde and Morecambe are saved.
The motion says: ‘’Lancashire County Council notes with disappointment the decision of the Post Office to close branches across the country, including Poulton and Morecambe here in Lancashire.
‘’Council further notes that thousands of residents have expressed their opposition to this decision, given the impact that these closures are likely to have, particularly on vulnerable and elderly residents in rural communities.
‘’Council therefore resolves to: Request that the Chief Executive writes to the Chief Executive of the Post Office, asking that they reconsider the decision to close Poulton and Morecambe Post Offices in Lancashire.
‘’Request that the Chief Executive writes to all Lancashire Members of Parliament to ask for their support in retaining our Post Offices.
‘’Request that the Scrutiny Management Board considers whether inclusion of this matter is relevant to the scrutiny working group on Banking Hubs agreed at Full Council on 17 October 2024, to ensure the needs of vulnerable residents, particularly in our rural communities, are considered in full.’’
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