Almost 50 post offices to close

Full list of post office closures

Forty-eight post offices across Shropshire and Staffordshire are to close, the Post Office has said.

The announcement comes after a six-week consultation period during which the fate of more than 50 post offices was looked at.

Following the review, the Greenfields branch in Shrewsbury, and Stapenhill in Burton-upon-Trent, have been reprieved.

The first wave of closures will take place in August. MPs in the area have already protested at the cuts.

During the announcement the Post Office said plans to close the Mow Cop branch, near Biddulph, Staffordshire, and Randlay, in Telford, Shropshire, were under further review.

Outreach service

The Lydbury North branch, in Shropshire, will close and be replaced by an outreach service.

The Post Office has also announced the closure of a further branch, Pear Tree in Rugeley, Staffordshire. A six week consultation will begin on 15 July.

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant, who has two post offices closing in his constituency, said the decision made a mockery of the consultation period.

"Hundreds of protest letters and my own representations made it clear to the Post Office that the closure of the St John Street post office in particular would create real difficulties for elderly and disabled customers who cannot easily make it to the post office in Bakers Lane," he said.

He added he would continue to fight the closures although he felt it was already "a done deal".

Shropshire County Council has also said it is disappointed with the decision.

'Borne fruit'

Council leader Malcolm Pate said he would be talking to the Post Office and branches and communities affected to find the best ways to support them.

"However, we are pleased about Greenfields post office's reprieve, and that our efforts to improve on the outreach services which were first offered have borne fruit," he said.

Stoke-on-Trent Mayor, Mark Meredith, said he was concerned about post office provision across the city.

"The council put in a very robust letter to the consultation expressing our concerns," he said.

He said he would hold further meetings with the Post Office about the situation.

Another 12 post offices are to be replaced with an outreach service.