Post offices closures announced

The branches facing the axe were first announced in August

Just one of 47 post offices threatened with closure across South Yorkshire has been saved, it has been revealed.

The Post Office announced the closures despite months of campaigning by protesters. Only the Wadsley Bridge branch in Sheffield will stay open.

In August 2007 the Post Office revealed a list of branches set to close in a restructuring move by the government.

A 20,000-strong petition was gathered in Sheffield last month and taken to Downing Street over the closures.

Sheffield City Council leader Paul Shriven said: "This decision is against the communities and the people of Sheffield.

"We are hugely disappointed and frustrated that Post Office Ltd hasn't taken the time to read our submission on why our communities, and particularly vulnerable people, need them."

Number of branches closing Sheffield, 21 Barnsley, 12 Rotherham, 6 Ponterfract, 4 Doncaster, 2 Holmsfirth, 2

A spokesman for Post Office said the decision "offers our customers in this area the best prospect" for the future.

The Post Office said that despite the closures 99% of residents would be within three miles of a branch.

Postwatch, the post office watchdog, said it was pleased the Wadsley Bridge branch had been saved.

"We had concerns about this particular proposal on the basis that customers would have been excessively inconvenienced were it to proceed, " said a Postwatch spokesman.