Local MP Karen Bradley met with Post Office bosses last week, to discuss the new Post Office branch to be opened on High Street and also to push for a second branch to be opened in Leek, closer to the current one in Waitrose.
Karen is concerned that, although the new High Street branch will be closer to the town centre and will replace the existing branch in Waitrose when it closes next week, there will no longer be an easy-to-access branch to the north of Leek. This means that older and more vulnerable residents on the north side of town will have a longer journey.
Karen said:
“I am obviously delighted that the Post Office has moved so swiftly to replace the main branch in Waitrose which will close next week, and they confirmed at my meeting with them that this will be open within a few months. I am sure Chris and Mike will run it very well.
“However, I did raise my concerns that the closure of the Waitrose branch will leave the north side of Leek without a Post Office, and this could mean that pensioners and vulnerable residents on that side of town could be inconvenienced.”
Karen has also been in contact with the leader of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Cllr Sybil Ralphs MBE, who shares her concerns on this matter.
Karen added:
“I was therefore pleased that at my meeting with them, the Post Office agreed that they would look at the possibility of finding somewhere for a second branch in the north of Leek, once the new High Street branch is fully open.
“I will keep in contact with them about this over the coming months, and I am sure that between us and Cllr Ralphs, we can come up with a suitable site.”