By Staff Reporter

Last updated 16:15, Friday, 09 May 2008

ALLERDALE council has identified four Post Offices it says should be saved from closure.

Vulcans Lane in Workington, Grasslot in Maryport, Brigham and High Harrington could all be saved under the minimum access criteria prescribed by the Government, according to the council’s executive committee.

The Executive has pledged to join the fight for branches that could be saved under this prescription, with responses based on fact rather than emotion.

Under the terms of the minimum access criteria, 99 per cent of the population must be within three miles of a post office, rising to one mile in deprived urban areas.

Arguments to save the post offices included:

• Vulcans Lane serves Moss Bay, parts of which are in the worst three per cent of deprived areas in the country. There have been closures in neighbouring wards, the town centre branch cannot absorb extra clients, there is restricted car parking and low car ownership.

• Grasslot in Maryport is also in one of the worst areas of deprivation in the country, there is low car ownership and the terrain to the neighbouring branch is difficult.

• Brigham has the major obstacle of the A66. The closure would impact on the local economy, there is no public transport to Great Broughton and very limited to Cockermouth where parking is restricted. Closures have potential to restrict future development.

• High Harrington’s nearest post office means walking a dangerous road with restricted pavement. The terrain is hilly and parking poor. There is poor access to services such as bill payments.

Camerton post office has been identified as one that need not stay open because it has only 11 customers and its owners are about to retire.