Portreath locals campaign to save Post Office from 'unreasonable' closure
The Post Office is due to close today with four days notice
Last updated 14th Jun 2023
People in Portreath are calling to save the post office in their village from closure.
The post office in the coastal village is due to close today, after four days notice.
Isabel, who lives in Portreath, said: "I am hugely concerned by the news of the imminent closure of Portreath post office. The post office in Portreath is at the heart of our thriving community and is well used by locals all year and by holiday makers.
"Clearly unreasonable"
"As an equality issue, the access to and availability of services in a village badly served by public transport is crucial to the independence of many Portreath residents.
"The post office, shop, staff, customers and stakeholders heard about this on Saturday 10th June for a closure on Wednesday 14th June: clearly unreasonable. There has been no consultation, publicity or any decent notice so there has been no exploring of alternatives that might offer better solutions to whatever problem Post Office Ltd is trying to solve."
In a statement from George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth, his team wrote: "George has been contacted by several constituents who live in the Portreath area about this matter.
"A vital asset for the community"
"The Post Office is regularly used by many local residents and is a vital asset for the community, that’s why George is urgently seeking a meeting with the Post Office to understand why this decision has been made, particularly without a formal consultation.”
Perran Moon, parliamentary candidate for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, wrote in a statement: "Following the very sad recent death of the Postmaster, I am deeply concerned about the proposed closure of Portreath Post Office.
"The haste with which the closure has been announced is a further cause for concern. There appears to have been little or no consultation with the community and, as far as I'm aware, no viable alternative arrangements have been sought..."
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Post Office said:
"Portreath Post Office is closing (14/6) for reasons beyond our control. We sincerely apologise to customers for the short notice of the branch closure. Alternative branches include Paynters Lane End Post Office which is 2.1 miles from Portreath as well as Illogan Highway and Porthtowan.
"We have undertaken a review, and currently there aren’t any sustainable options available to retain the service. Like many retailers, difficult trading conditions coupled with high inflation and increasing business costs have put our financial position under considerable pressure.
"Post Office and postmasters are facing a particularly challenging period and the Government funding we receive to maintain services must be prioritised in locations with the greatest need. We are committed to maintaining our access criteria so that 99% of the UK’s population are within 3 miles of a Post Office and 90% are within 1 mile.
"We will continue to review changes locally to understand what additional services customers might need in the area, although it is important that any future service provision is sustainable for the operator and for Post Office Limited."