A Cumbrian MP has called on the Post Office to pause its plans to axe mobile services in village halls.
The Post Office wants to close its weekly mobile services in the village halls in Roadhead and Stapleton village halls, near Brampton.
Carlisle MP Julie Minns said the closing of the mobile services would pose a risk to isolated rural communities and said the villages had not been given enough notice.
Ms Minns has raised the issue directly with Neil Brocklehurst, CEO of the Post Office.
She said the organisation failed to follow its own community engagement guidelines, which require at least four weeks’ notice to elected representatives, local residents, and Link.
Ms Minns also met with Post Office representatives and demanded a full and transparent consultation to explore all available options for maintaining services.
Ms Minns said: “The Post Office must take its duty to rural communities seriously. These mobile branches are lifelines for some of the residents in north Cumbria – especially older people and those without access to transport.
“Closing both the Roadhead and Stapleton services at the same time, and with such short notice, is unacceptable. Communities in north Cumbria deserve better.”
Helen Griggs, founder and owner of Nook Farm Honey, said: “As a business owner and resident of the Roadhead area, I am disappointed, frustrated and annoyed about the closure of the mobile Post Office, which is an indispensable part of our community.
“In a village with no public transport or any other amenities, the Post Office it is a vital lifeline for elderly residents, local businesses, and our whole community.
“But it’s more than just a Post Office and bank; it’s a crucial part of our daily lives, serving as a gathering point for residents to meet, exchange news, and support each other. Without it, we lose both access to essential services, and a hub that keeps us connected.”
Ms Minns is also backing a petition by Ms Griggs to save Roadhead’s Mobile Post Office. The petition can be found at https://www.change.org/p/save-roadhead-s-mobile-post-office
