East Hagbourne Post Office sparks fresh concern in Oxfordshire

Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage, has written to Blair McDougall, minister for small business, about the closure of East Hagbourne Post Office in his Oxfordshire constituency.

He raised concerns following the Government’s response to a petition, which defended the closure by pointing to nearby alternatives.

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Mr Glover said: “This comment ignores some important local factors, of which I would like to make you aware.”

In his letter, Mr Glover warned that the Didcot Post Office branch is now also at risk.

Operated by TG Jones, whose restructuring plan has now been approved, the future of the Didcot Post Office is at risk.

A public advert seeking a new operator for Didcot Post Office has already been published.

Mr Glover said: “My constituents will not be reassured by the suggestion that ‘services remain within local reach of communities’.

“In fact, the risk of this disruption is only causing greater concern.”

He also raised issues with the Georgetown Post Office branch, the other alternative listed in the Government’s response.

Constituents have reported long wait times and unexpected closures at the site.

Mr Glover said: “This branch is approximately 1.6 miles away from the East Hagbourne Post Office: a half-hour walk, or, more likely, a journey that will be driven, adding to the existing significant congestion in Didcot.

“Additional pressure as a result of this change will only make the situation worse.”

He warned that recent developments could leave Didcot, a town of 37,000 residents, with just one functioning branch.

He said the Government’s response appeared to assume people are able and willing to travel further for essential services.

Mr Glover said: “Accessibility is critical for services such as these, and a reliance on alternative post offices, even if these alternative options survive, would disrupt the lives of those who rely on this vital service, particularly vulnerable constituents and those with disabilities.”

He also requested updates on discussions between the Government and the Post Office regarding the East Hagbourne closure.

In his letter, he asked the minister to continue to press the Post Office on this.

A Post Office spokesman said: “East Hagbourne Post Office is closed due to the resignation of the postmaster who operates the branch within the community shop and it has been closed since 24 February. ”

The MP’s petition has around 70 handwritten signatures, a requirement for parliamentary petitions is for them to have wet signatures or handwritten signatures.

There is also an online petition on the issue being run by the community shop volunteers, which over 1,000 people have signed.