The Post Office counter moved into the newsagents in March last year Pic: Google

The last post looks set to be called for a Post Office counter in Fulwood.

Cadley residents are to see the Black Bull Lane branch, which is within the Black Bull News shop, stop accepting their post. The newsagents is to remain open and trading.

This leaves the nearest Post Office at Garstang Road, a twenty minute walk for many elderly residents.

Councillor John Potter, who represents the Cadley ward, has written to the Post Office to question why no official consultation has been launched.

He said: “Our concerns are that we have some very elderly residents, some in sheltered accommodation, that will now be over 20 minutes walk away from the Sharoe Green branch at 347 Garstang Road. The government criteria that 95% of the total urban population across the UK to be within one mile of their nearest post office outlet is being stretched to its limit for some of the residents now.

“We also have concerns about the lack of public consultation on the closure, I’ve tried searching for the closure on the internet and find no signal that the branch is closing and the shop itself has only a hand written note on the door saying the post office is to shut down but not the shop.

“Given that the Cadley branch has now been taken off the online branch finder map you would seem to be in breach of the Post Office Ltd’s legal duty to consult with the community before it closes a post office branch or makes major changes to its service. This consultation must last for six weeks. This duty is set out in a Code of Practice.

“If the Post Office Ltd wants to close or move your branch, I understand that it will put up posters in the branch and make the code of practice available. It will also write to local representatives and community groups to outline the proposals and ask for comments.”

Blog Preston has contacted the Post Office but had yet to receive a response at the time of publication.

Do you use this Post Office? What do you think of the impending closure? Let us know in the comments below