Heathfield MP, Huw Merriman, and County Councillor, Rupert Simmons, have joined forces to urge Post Office Ltd to provide alternative facilities for residents since the town’s main Post Office closed on 1 April.
Heathfield’s 11,500 residents have now been without vital Post Office services for over 6 weeks. Many local people, both businesses and residents rely on the services of the Post Office but find it impossible to get to the nearest Post Offices in Broad Oak, Rushlake Green and Horam without a car. This is particularly distressing for the elderly or disabled.
Huw Merriman, the town’s new MP, is determined to make this one of his first priorities. He is working closely with Councillor Rupert Simmons and Post Office Ltd to ensure that new premises are found as soon as possible and, in the meantime, that a temporary porta-cabin Post Office is provided for local residents. Huw has posted an update on the outside of the former Post Office to give residents an update on the current position.
Speaking in Heathfield, Huw said “Like many of the town’s residents, I tried to use the local Post Office only to find that it had been closed with no explanation. Cllr Simmons and I have received an assurance from the Post Office that it will reopen a permanent unit when new premises can be found and will locate a temporary unit in the town imminently. We will continue to press all parties to resolve the matter and will post updates on the former Post Office as we get them.”
Cllr Rupert Simmons said “It has been an extremely frustrating 6 weeks to first unravel the truth of the situation and having done so to try and re-instate the service in the original location. Having got the Head offices of both Sainsbury’s and Post Office ltd to meet and discuss the Heathfield issue, that now seems beyond capability and so we are turning to providing a reliable short term alternative in the centre of the Town. We have now set up such a capability and the appropriate stakeholders are ready to help. With Huw Merriman now at the front line on this case, we would hope for a speedy resolution. We have secured an assurance that come what may, a Full Service Post Office will be re-installed in Heathfield.”