Isolation fears as Post Office branches close

Concerns have been raised that the closure of two Post Office branches in Glossop will lead to social isolation among vulnerable people.

Branches in the Gamesley and Simmondley housing estates have closed in the last few weeks, and the Post Office is now advertising for new postmasters in a bid to reopen them.

Helen Thornhill, manager of the Gamesley Community Centre, said many elderly and vulnerable people who lived on the estate would be affected by the closure.

The Post Office apologised for the closures and said it was "working hard to try to restore service as soon as possible".

Thornhill said: "It is going to be huge to the community - there's no doubt about that.

"There are people who will potentially stop banking. There are so many knock-on effects of losing a post office."

She wants to start a branch at her centre on a community model.

It would open for half a day a couple of times a week, she explained, adding that the plans were only in the early stages.

"We want to be able to bridge that gap of any services that are missing on the estate," she said.

"Just that face-to-face contact and having somebody to go to and say 'I don't understand what this bill is referring to' makes a massive difference."

The branch in Simmondley closed in May and it has made life harder for 71-year-old Joanne Greenhalgh, who struggles with walking due to multiple sclerosis.

She uses the post office on a weekly basis and now has to use the branch in the town centre, which she said is more difficult because parking near to it is not easy.

"I can't remember the last time I was able to even walk down to the end of the road, never mind into the centre of Glossop," Greenhalgh added.

"I need transport. That is why Simmondley was so wonderful, because it was on a level area and I could go in just using a walking stick."

She added that as well as having easy on-street parking outside the Simmondley branch there was also a free car park to the back of the building.

A Post Office spokesperson said: "Both Gamesley and Simmondley Post Offices have recently closed.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers by these neighbouring branches.

"We know how important a Post Office is to its community and we are working hard to try to restore service as soon as possible.

"The vacancies have been advertised. In the interim, Glossop is an alternative branch."

High Peak Labour MP Jon Pearce said despite the Horizon scandal running a post office was still an attractive prospect.

"I speak to postmasters across the High Peak who have got thriving businesses who are doing very well," Pearce added.

"So yes, these were terrible circumstances (the Post Office scandal), but the Post Office has moved on and this government is committed to looking after postmasters."

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