DETERMINED LOCALS are pushing one final time in a bid to prevent Greenfield Post Office closing its door.
Popular sub-postmistress Mandy Gorey, 51, has run the office on Chew Valley Road for 15 years but has been seeking someone to take over as she looks to move on.
Now, after no one has come forward to take on the business, Mandy has decided to close the Post Office and she has applied for planning permission to change it into a house.
The downstairs area with the post office counter and retail shop will be combined with the existing first floor flat to make a residential property which Mandy will sell on.
She explained: “No date has been set for the closure yet, that depends on the planning application.
“It is a shame that no one has been able to take it on but I’ve been looking for long enough!
“I love being part of the community but I want to spend more time with my family and grandchildren now.”
But Richard Knowles, former Mayor of Oldham, supported by local Lib Dem councillors Alan Belmore and John McCann, are still battling on to save the community service.
They have been looking into plans to move the Post Office facilities into Greenfield newsagents, the Premier store or Tesco on Chew Valley Road.
Mr Knowles said: “Mandy has been very patient all year but the Post Office and Oldham Council have not managed to agree to proposals and it is very frustrating.
“They say the two places put forward don’t have the space required to put in post office counters and for the adaptation needed, or they have lack of disabled access.
“Uppermill Post Office has got six steps so how they can be opposed to the two steps at Greenfield newsagents is beyond belief!”
“We might only have about eight weeks left but we are still trying our best to relocate the post office and will work our socks off in these next few weeks.”
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We have not been approached by the Post Office in relation to placing a post office in our store. But we are not looking to take on a licence at this time.”
A Post Office Spokesperson said: “We are aware the postmaster at Greenfield Post Office has expressed an interest in leaving the business.
“We would like to reassure customers the Post Office is committed to maintaining a service in Greenfield and we will continue to work hard to ensure this.
“We are seeking alternative premises for the post office so local retailers interested in this business opportunity should contact us on 0845 266 8790 or email NTquestions@postoffice.co.uk”
To see the planning application visit the Oldham Council website with Ref No: PA/339236/16.
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