Glimmer of hope despite Long Lawford Post Office closing this week

Long Lawford’s Post Office, which is ran from within the Heart of England Co-operative Society’s store on Townsend Lane, is closing as it is not making enough money.

Campaigners have been battling to save the ‘vital’ service but the closure will go ahead on Friday as planned.

But new hope has emerged after the Post Office said it is doing all it can to keep the service operating in the village.

Pete McLaren, Long Lawford resident and Rugby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition spokesperson, helped to collect more than 700 signatures on a number of petitions against the closure.

After receiving details of the petitions, the Post Office responded immediately, stating: “Post Office Ltd are committed to operating a service in the area, and are doing all we can to reinstate the service to the community as soon as practically possible. It remains our intention to maintain a service in this locality. We will ensure that you are kept advised of any further developments.”

Mr McLaren said: “A large number of local people depend on the village Post Office, especially those without transport and/or internet access, and they will be furious about its closure.

“However, despite the Co-op’s decision, the Post Office itself has confirmed its intention to maintain post office facilities in the area and, unlike the Co-op, it does seem to care about providing a service in the village.

“This should re-assure people and, as we understand it, there have already been talks between the Post Office, Rugby Council and Long Lawford Parish Council to this end.”

A Heart of England Co-operative spokesperson said: “Over the years strategic changes within Post Offices Ltd have led to reduced over-the-counter and transactional-based services. As a consequence, the Post Office has seen a significant reduction in footfall and income and in recent years has become financially unviable.”

Rugby MP Mark Pawsey is presenting the petition in Parliament, along with petitions opposing the closure of the Post Office in Bulkington.

Mr McLaren added: “We said from the start that we were in this for the long haul and I remain cautiously optimistic that we will have some sort of Post Office facility operating in the village not long after Friday’s closure of the existing provison within the Co-op.”