Petition to save Oswestry Post Office hits 1,000 signatures in less than 24 hours - how to show your support

North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan launched the petition yesterday and called on Shropshire residents to sign and express their "strong opposition to proposals to close Oswestry Post Office".

The branch on Willow Street is currently the only place in the Oswestry area that offers a full range of services to small businesses.

The MP has taken the fight to Parliament, raising the campaign to keep the Oswestry Post Office open with the Minister in an 'Urgent Questions' session on the recent crown branch closure announcement. 

The Minister stressed that "no decision has been taken yet", but confirmed that the Post Office would be moving ahead with plans with a view to shutting crown branches. 

Mrs Morgan also held a meeting with the Post Office shortly afterwards, where she made clear the need for the Oswestry branch to stay open and also pressed for services to be kept in Cockshutt.

More than 1,000 residents have signed the MP's petition in less than a day. You can show your support by signing here: Save Oswestry Post Office

'Areas are being deserted by commercial organisations'

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, asked the Minister: "Oswestry in my constituency is the second largest town in Shropshire and it serves a vast rural area stretching into Mid Wales and across North Shropshire, which is digitally excluded quite often because it doesn't have adequate mobile signal or broadband services. The full range of Crown Post Office services are absolutely essential. 

"Can the Minister provide some assurance that the full range of Crown Post Office services will remain in Oswestry and that the Post Office will take into account the fact that it is so important to retain these vital services in rural areas which are being deserted by commercial organisations like banks?"

Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports, replied: "I absolutely am clear that we have, as a government, a continuing responsibility, which we recognise and accept, to make sure Post Office services are available to every community across the UK, that there is easy access to a Post Office branch in rural areas and in urban areas alike. And we remain committed to doing that. Absolutely.

"As I've said earlier, no decision has been taken on to close any individual directly managed branch. But it is right that the Post Office looks at all its costs if we're going to achieve an increase in sub postmaster pay going forward. And in that regard and her wider point, it's important that the Post Office management this time, because previous management teams haven't always done so, consults properly with sub postmasters, with trade unions and with other stakeholders."

Residents can still sign Helen’s petition at: https://www.helenmorgan.org.uk/oswestry-postoffice.