Paignton Post Office petition goes to parliament

It's one of four at risk in Devon

A petition aimed at saving Paignton’s town centre post office has been presented to the House of Commons.

Torbay’s Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling handed in the petition which follows a campaign in the bay to keep the service in Torquay Road.

The fate of the office was first announced last November, with Paignton among four Devon post offices named among 115 around the country under threat of closure. The Post Office says the branches make significant losses.

The other Devon post offices on the list are at Bideford, Teignmouth and Mutley in Plymouth.

At the time, Cllr Christine Carter (Lib Dem, Roundham with Hyde) said it would be ‘tragic’ to lose it. She went on: “It is crucial to the local businesses and residents. It is a vital asset, and this is shocking news.”

The 115 branches earmarked for closure are those wholly-owned by the Post Office, rather than the smaller franchised outlets. They currently employ around 1,000 staff.

Options could include operators such as WHSmith taking on the branches, or closure.

Mr Darling told the fellow MPs that residents wanted to protect and save Paignton’s post office. He said: “It is a vital part of Paignton town centre.

“Residents across the whole of Torbay value this resource, and it has a massive impact on community engagement and through the simple face-to-face engagement that many people get when they use the services, but also as a financial hub in the busy small town of Paignton.

“The petitioners call on the House of Commons to reach out to the government and the Post Office to do the right thing and withdraw the threatened closure.”