Post Office closure is 'big loss' to community

Residents have told of difficulties they will face when their local Post Office branch closes later this summer.

The branch is based within a Morrisons Daily convenience store on Fairfax Avenue in Hull, which is due to close on 9 August.

Sam Scott, 53, who uses a mobility scooter, said losing the facility would be a "big loss" for her.

Dame Diana Johnson, MP for Hull North and Cottingham, and ward councillor Sharon Hoffman, have started a petition to save what they call a "vital" local service. A Post Office spokesperson said it recognised the inconvenience that will be caused by the closure and said it was advertising the branch vacancy.

Discussing further how the closure would impact her, Scott said: "It would be a big loss. I'm disabled, and some days I'm in so much pain I can't get out of bed. I think I'll have to go to Newland Avenue now.

"It's a massive impact for me - I pay my bills here, parcels, shopping, everything. I'll have to find another pay point now. It's a busy shop, I don't see why it's closing."

Linda Andrews, 73, also struggles with her mobility and said she uses the Fairfax Avenue Post Office mainly for buying stamps and returning parcels.

She said she had only just found out the news, and added: "It's going to have to be a bus to Cottingham now to the nearest [other branch], with me being not so mobile, or they've got [parcel] lockers now at the Good Fellowship (pub). So already I'm planning ahead, thinking 'what am I going to do?'"

Andrews added: "For me, it's more of an inconvenience. But I feel sorry for all the girls that work here. They're losing their jobs."

Cal Ejike, 45, was trying to use the cash machine outside the shop, but when there was no cash available he went inside to use the Post Office instead.

He said: "I use the Post Office for the foreign money exchange and getting insurance. It's not good that it's closing. It's a part of the local community. Elderly people like to use it.

"I don't think it's a good idea to close it. It used to be an ever-presence in the community - just like high street banks. All these closures are affecting our community."

Bricknell Ward councillor Sharon Hoffman said the aim of the petition was to ensure the Post Office "doesn't forget about us".

She said: "It's an absolutely vital service. Many, many people use it, including myself as I'm a resident of the Bricknell ward, and I've had a number of residents, since I've found out the service is closing, really concerned.

"A number of our residents have limited mobility, and lots of them don't drive, older people particularly, and the next nearest post office is quite a way away for them. They've said it's going to be really difficult for them."

Hoffman said residents were "really desperate" to retain a Post Office branch.

According to a poster in the shop window, the nearest two branches are in Chanterlands Avenue and Inglemire Lane, 1.1 miles (1.8km) miles and 1.2 (1.9km) miles away, respectively.

Across the Humber Estuary in Brigg, another Morrisons Daily store - also containing a Post Office branch - will close.

That store, in Wrawby Street, is expected to close on 1 August.

The next nearest Post Offices are in Scawby, three miles (4.8km) away and Broughton, which is 4.5 miles (7.2km) away.

In a statement addressing both closures, a Post Office spokesperson said: "We fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers and small businesses who rely on our banking and parcel services in particular."

The spokesperson added: "We welcome applications from nearby retailers looking to host a Post Office inside their store."

Morrisons has been contacted for comment on the store closures.

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