Oxfordshire Post Office given ‘farcical’ offer to stay open

A petition organised by the shop called on the Post Office to reverse its decision and advertise for the job.

In a letter to Mr Barber, Blair McDougall, minister for small business and economic transformation, announced the reversal of the decision.

However, the post office is only being offered the chance to run under a ‘local model’.

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This means the non-profit community shop would have to take on up to 70% of the staffing costs for the Post Office.

The shop previously ran under a ‘community model’, where the bulk of the costs were covered by a government grant.

Matthew Barber, police and crime commissioner, said: “Thanks to the efforts of everyone who backed the local campaign to save East Hagbourne Post Office – there is hope – but the fight isn’t over yet.

“I wrote to the Post Office Minister back in March to raise the impact of the decision not to recruit a new sub-postmaster. I have received confirmation from the Minister that there is some movement, but not a viable solution yet.”

In a letter to Mr Barber Blair McDougall, minister for small business and economic transformation, said: “Post Office Limited has now decided to advertise the opportunity to operate the East Hagbourne branch.”

The community shop, run entirely by volunteers, has hosted the well-used Post Office counter for more than 20 years.

Sally Barksfield, chair of the East Hagbourne Community Shop Committee, said: “They closed us on the resignation of the recent Postmaster, without informing the shop.

“This meant we lost the community grant which supported a dedicated Postmaster.

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“What they then advertised for was a retailer to take on the Post office in the village without consultation with the shop. 

“As we are the only retail business apart from the pub in the village this was farcical.

“This would be under a “local model’ where a retailer must take on the management, liability and staffing of the branch.”

The Post Office placed a notice on March 4 stating that, following the resignation of the postmaster, they “are not looking to replace East Hagbourne Post Office at this time”.

Following the announcement of the closure, MP for Didcot and Wantage, Olly Glover, received dozens of emails from concerned customers, volunteers, and community organisations describing how vital the Post Office and shop are to village life.

The Post Office placed a notice on March 4 stating that, following the resignation of the postmaster, they “are not looking to replace East Hagbourne Post Office at this time”.