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Post Office chiefs under fire after closures are confirmed
MAIL chiefs came under fire today after it was revealed they will close the 11 Calderdale post offices earmarked for closure.
Campaigners say the Post Office ignored arguments against shutting them, making the six-week consultation period useless.
It means the number of branches in the district will drop from 44 to 33. Closures will begin next month.
Branches facing closure are: Greetland post office, West Vale; Hove Edge, Brighouse; Lightcliffe; Midgley; Portsmouth and Shade at Todmorden; Stainland; Bell Hall, Halifax; Holmfield, Halifax; Scar Bottom, Halifax; and Shelf.
Calderdale Council organised a string of public meetings to fight the closures, a 3,000-name petition and wrote to the Post Office and Prime Minister.
Amanda Byrne, cabinet member for community services, said: "The Post Office appears to have ridden roughshod over the genuine needs of local people.
"We will register our disappointment and ask them to reconsider."
One of the most controversial proposals was in West Vale, where a massive campaign was mounted.
Businessman Peter Broadley, who was involved in the protest, said: "If I am honest, I suspected it was a foregone conclusion."
He added: "People will feel very surprised to put it mildly. I'm glad we came out and fought. I don't think others had anything like the support we had.
"I am sorry for the village."
Calder Valley MP Chris McCafferty who was against the closures, said she was particularly angry over the West Vale closure.
"I am very disappointed and disgusted with the process."
Halifax MP Linda Riordan also described the consultation as "little more than a paper exercise".
She said: "I am dismayed at the Post Office's decision as many people, particularly the elderly, will be adversely affected by these closures.
"It is disappointing that the consultation process didn't conclude that some, if not all, of these branches in Halifax should stay open."
Adrian Wales, Post Office Ltd's network development manager North East, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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