Community mourns post office loss

The 'heart' of a Staffordshire community has been destroyed because its post office closed, residents say.

A branch post office in Carlisle Street, Dresden, Stoke-on-Trent shut in August after an announcement that 2,500 would close nationally to save money.

Traders in Carlisle Street said takings were down and a green grocers had shut because of the loss in passing trade.

Post Office Ltd said it sympathised but some cuts were needed to make the rest of its network sustainable.

Prior to the closures it said it was making losses of £4m per week across its services nationwide.

Traders said the loss had had a negative effect on community life and put the closure of the Carlisle Street green grocer down to the post office effect.

Lesley Colclough, who owns Mace Convenience Store in Carlisle Street, said: "The closure of the post office has taken away the heart of Dresden.

"The street now seems as though there's no life in it anymore."

Paul Stillwell, landlord of the Princess Royal public house in Carlisle Street, said it was "disgraceful".

He added: "We're surrounded by old folks homes and bungalows around here and there's nowhere for them to go now."