Post Office closure shocks Marlow (From Bucks Free Press)

Post Office closure shocks Marlow

11:44am Monday 23rd April 2007 in News By Lucinda Adam

THE closure of Marlow's High Street Post Office came as a shock to businesses, residents and community leaders yesterday.

A handwritten notice announcing that the shop and Post Office will no longer operate after 5.30pm on Monday was a surprise to shoppers, who quickly spread the news by word of mouth.

The new tenants will be a national clothing chain The nearest alternative Post Office branches are at Oak Tree Road or Marlow Bottom Road, Marlow Bottom, but they are smaller stores that do not provide passport or car taxation services.

Customers will now have to travel as far as Bourne End for car tax but all the way to High Wycombe or Maidenhead for the nearest full-service post office.

Rod Braybrooke of the Mar- low Forum described the loss as "diabolical".

He said: "That's the central Post Office gone. The one in Oak Tree Road is a fair walk away. To close at such short notice is unfair.

"We've all noticed over the past few weeks that the shop was running stock down, but we just thought new people were taking over.

"For a landlord to sell up and take a vital service away is totally irres- ponsible."

Alan Thomas, president of Marlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce, said: "The decision has to be called into question to remove a service from a town the size of Marlow which deserves to have its own post office.

"This may well have a negative knock-on effect if people have to go out of the town to obtain the services they should be able to get in Marlow.

Post Office Ltd described the closure as temporary, but appealed for someone to come forward to run a branch.

A Post Office spokesperson said: "We understand that the people of Marlow will be concerned about the future of Post Office services in their area. We are committed to maintaining a provision for Marlow but our efforts have so far failed.

"I would urge any potential partners interested in running the Post Office branch to come forward as soon as possible. Post Office Ltd apologises for the inconvenience this temporary closure will cause to customers."

Richard Hunt, of Hunts Hardware in the High Street, has a positive view on the closure. He said: "That Post Office has not been big enough for the town's needs. We're a market town with a tiny village Post Office.

"If we've got to go to Oak Tree Road, at least we'll get a better service - the High Street branch always has long queues and is often closed for various reasons."

Jackie Bannister has worked at the Post Office in Oak Tree Road for 11 years and became postmistress a year ago. She said: "We knew about it last week. We may have to take on more staff to deal with an increase in customers after the High Street branch closes.

"We have exactly the same opening hours as them, but we can't guarantee anything."

Deriaz Slater Commercial, which handled the sale of the lease, told the Free Press that there were an astounding five offers for the shop, leading the buyer to pay significantly over the £50,000 guide price for the premium in a battle of sealed bids.

The managers of the shop and Post Office at 44 High Street, Marlow, were unavailable for comment.

Anyone interested in the vacancy can phone 0845 601 6260.