Teenager campaigns to save Churchill post office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://thelochsidepress.com/2022/11/30 ... st-office/

A teenager has launched a campaign to save a shop and post office which hundreds of families in Helensburgh depend on.

McColls in Churchill Square is earmarked for closure in January after the company was taken over by supermarket chain Morrisons.

There are around 400 families on the Churchill estate and now 17 year-old Taylor Cameron has started a petition asking Morrisons, the MoD and Argyll & Bute Council to reverse the closure.

“I have lived in Churchill my whole life and this shop provides a lifeline for hundreds of families,” said Taylor.

“I’m asking David Potts, CEO of Morrisons, to reverse his decision and save our shop.

“I’m worried young families living on Churchill, as well as older and disabled people, will be cut off from post office services, including topping-up pre-payment meters.

“With the current cost of living crisis, shutting this shop could leave people in the cold.”

The petition gained 700 signatures in just a few hours, and Taylor is now planning a campaign day and community meeting in December to raise awareness and encourage other residents to join in.

Helensburgh community councillor Polly Jones said: “Morrisons must keep the Churchill shop and post office open because it provides an essential service for hundreds of residents in Churchill, and hundreds more across Helensburgh.

“Taylor has done a fantastic job in starting this campaign. Now it needs us all to join him to save our shop.”

And Argyll and Bute Cllr Fiona Howard added: “Having asked the people of Helensburgh to contact Morrisons themselves to appeal against this decision I am so impressed that Taylor has taken the fight on board.

“This post office is one of only two in Helensburgh and is used by many more people than just those who live in Churchill.

“The town centre post office, also owned by Morrison’s is not easily accessible, and is too small to serve a population of 16,000-plus.

“Morrisons have told me they will keep the shop and post office open until after the Christmas rush but that is not good enough, particularly in view of the proposed building of some 300 new houses nearby.

“Please support Taylor and sign his petition.”