Post Office officials have been urged to ensure the withdrawal of services from five Exmoor villages is as short-lived as possible. Current outreach facilities provided by the Dulverton postmaster are due to cease on October 1st, leaving villagers in Brompton Regis, Oakford, West Anstey, Rackenford and Hawkridge with no access to counter services at all.
But Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says urgent efforts must be made to restart them.
“Losing the basic amenity of a Post Office counter operating even a few hours a week is going to be a devastating blow, particularly for the elderly and less mobile residents of these villages,” he said.
“I’m afraid rural areas continue to suffer disproportionately harshly when agencies such as banks and the post office decide economies are necessary - and I was glad to hear the Government laying down the law to banks last week to ensure that no-one in rural areas should have to travel more than three miles to withdraw cash or make deposits.
“I shall be looking to the Post Office to sort out the situation in Dulverton and the satellite villages with no delay whatsoever - and I shall be asking for regular updates on its progress.”