Residents are in uproar after being told that a popular Shrewsbury post office is to close with less than two weeks’ notice.
The Stars News Shops post office in New Park Road, Castlefields, will serve its last customer on March 26, while the store itself will shut three days later.
The business was taken over by the Mid counties Co-operative a year ago and bosses informed staff and customers of the closure plans on Tuesday. Two jobs are being lost.
Stars News Shops relief manager David Llewellyn, who has worked at the shop for the past nine months, said: “The closure is going to make a big difference to old people round here. It’s going to be sad for the people in the community, as the post office is a meeting place.”
Alan Mosley, county councillor for Castlefields, described the decision as a ‘disgrace’ and said it was ‘devastating news’. He plans to call a public meeting.
“We will also be looking at whether the county council and the new unitary authority might be able to support post office services as they are doing in other parts of the country,” he added.
Residents and shoppers spoke of their shock at hearing the news yesterday.
Jane Quinn, 58, of Victoria Street, told the Chronicle: “As an American one of the things I like most about Shrewsbury are the small shops and post offices.”
Robert William Ralph, 58, from Sundorne, visits the post office three times a week. He said: “The closure means that I have to walk further and what about the old people, where do they go?”
Susan Martin, 54, of New Park Close, said: “I come here nearly every day to get the paper, it’s a disgrace.”
The charity North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours is based nearby and co-ordinator Julie Thomas said: “We don’t know what the elderly are going to do.”
No one from the Mid-Counties Cooperative was available for comment as the Chronicle went to press.
l What do you think? Write in with your views to The Editor, Shrewsbury Chronicle, Chronicle House, Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DN, or email jbut terworth@shrewsbury chronicle.co.uk
l See page 13 of this week’s Shrewsbury Chronicle.