A petition has been launched to save the Prestwich Post Office branch after potential closure plans.
Prestwich Labour councillors started the petition for the site on Kingswood Road, Prestwich, after plans announced by the Post Office suggested it could be closed along with 115 other branches across the country.
Seven other branches in Greater Manchester are also at risk too, with branches in Harpurhey (Barnes Green), Didsbury Village, Eccles, Hyde, Leigh, Salford, and Stockport listed.
The 115 branches, which employ around a thousand people, are Crown Post Offices – branches owned by the company itself, rather than franchises like the majority of its other 11,500 sites in the UK.
The plans were announced by Post Office chair Nigel Railsworth on 13 November as a part of a ‘strategic review’ into the organisation, which will also see an increase in pay to postmasters after the Horizon Scandal.
But locals are “livid” with the plans and the petition has had 852 signatories so far.
Retiree Deborah, 64, spoke about how important the branch is to the community. She said: “It’s the backbone of Britain, the Post Office, it makes you feel secure. It’s unfathomable that it’s not going to be there.”
Linda, 75, is frustrated with the lack of access to banking in Prestwich. She said: “I’m livid. I’m disabled and I don’t drive. Where do I go for cash?
“Halifax, Lloyds, Barclays, they’ve all closed! I could nearly cry.
“The government are not bothered. By the next election I’ll be dead anyway.”
Two local business owners were similarly unimpressed with the potential loss.
Steven Beaumont, 53, said: “I hope it doesn’t close. I’m here every day. I’ve sent 20-30 packages today.”
“You can see the footfall” said Brett Pistorius, 43, as more people walked past clutching packages. He’s worried about the negative impact on his business: “I could lose sales. You just can’t rely on other delivery companies. If I lose the Post Office I won’t be able to look after my clients.”
In response to the announcement, the Communications Workers Union general secretary Dave Ward said on X: “The Horizon Scandal should have been a wakeup call for the Post Office.
“Instead their first act following it is to today move towards hundreds of branch closures hitting jobs and communities.
“Our members will make a stand against this and the government has to step in.”
According to Railsworth the plan will see a ‘new deal’ for postmasters.
He said: “The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters.
“We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal.”
Feature image: Luke Hewitt
