MP joins fight to save 'essential' post office

A campaign to save a "successful and well-used" post office has been backed by its local MP.

Villagers from Horspath, just outside Oxford, set up a campaign to save their outreach post office shortly before it closed in March.

Now Lib Dem Henley and Thame MP Freddie van Mierlo has written to the chairman of the Post Office and the minister for postal affairs urging them to intervene.

The Post Office said the branch had declining customer sessions and that there were still three branches within three miles of Horspath.

But locals raised concerns about accessing their nearest post office, which is just over two miles away in Wheatley, due to the lack of public transport links.

"Many elderly and vulnerable residents rely on this essential service," Mr van Mierlo said.

"This is a successful and well-used facility."

If saved, the branch could come under the stewardship of the Wheatley postmaster.

A Post Office spokesperson said, "The Post Office has undertaken a comprehensive review of the network to ensure that it continues to meet evolving customer needs in a very challenging economic climate.

"At this time we are not looking to replace Horspath Outreach Post Office, where there have been declining customer sessions.

"There are three branches within three miles for Horspath. These meet our access criteria of 99% of the UK population being within three miles and 90% within one mile of a post office."

A bid to save St Aldate's post office in central Oxford has, however, been successful.

The branch was named in November's announcement of the 115 post offices due to be closed as the organisation carried out a cost-saving shake-up.

However, it was later announced that retail franchise Universal Office Equipment would take it over.

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