Three village Post Office services close due to low customer usage

The services in Fifield, Stanway, and Ascott-under-Wychwood, operated by the postmaster at Bourton-on-the-Water, have been shut down and are not being replaced at this time, prompting changes to other nearby outreach locations.

Anne Murphy, retail change lead at the Post Office, said: “Please accept my apologies for the late notification on this occasion.

“When Post Office branches close we undertake a comprehensive review of the network to ensure that it continues to meet evolving customer needs in a very challenging economic climate.

“This review examined the network at a very detailed, local level, analysing customer demand and accessibility of Post Office services.

“Consequently, we are not looking to replace Fifield, Stanway, Ascott-under-Wynchwood Outreach services at this time.”

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The closures, which were effective from Monday, August 10 will also impact the schedules of other outreach services run by the Bourton-on-the-Water postmaster.

Sites in Guiting Power, Aldsworth, Sherborne, Longborough, Milton-under-Wychwood, and Churchill will see changes to their opening days and times to accommodate the loss of the other locations.

The Post Office is encouraging local representatives to share the information with residents to ensure everyone is aware of the changes.

Ms Murphy said: “If you are a local representative, please feel free to share this information through your social media channels and with any local groups or organisations that you know within the community for example on noticeboards, local charities and in GP surgeries, to help our customers and your constituents understand what is happening to the Post Office in the local community.

“We do hope that you will support this new service.”

Anyone with questions about the updated outreach services is encouraged to contact the Post Office’s National Consultation Team.

They are not the only Post Offices in Oxfordshire to close in recent time.

The Northcourt Road Post office in Abingdon’s Co-Op shut after technical problems and was reported as “closed until further notice” on August 18.

The former Headington Post Office closed permanently around the New Year because the building is to be demolished for redevelopment, although this since moved to Windmill Road.

The community-shop counter shut in East Hagbourne in February when its postmaster resigned, ending a service that had operated in the village for about 20 years.

The nearest branches are in Didcot and Georgetown, both under two miles away.

And the long-running Chalgrove branch was announced for closure in late 2025, with its last trading day at the end of January after 24 years.

The Post Office is currently undertaking a five-year transformation plan which will deliver an additional £250m in remuneration each year for postmasters and partners.