Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, has reacted with dismay to the news that the sub postmaster in Hullbridge has announced his resignation but has also pledged that he will do all he can to make sure that a post office remains open for use by his Hullbridge constituents in the future.
The current postmaster has given notice that he intends to resign, which is likely to take effect towards the end of October 2012. Given this, Mark spoke this morning, by telephone, with Mr Gary Herbert, the Post Office External Relations Manager for the East of England, to express his concern and that of his constituents at the news. The Post Office have assured the Rayleigh and Wickford MP (whose constituency also includes Hullbridge) that they are determined to maintain a post office in Hullbridge and that they have already begun a search to try and find an alternative solution. Given the importance of this matter, Mark has requested an urgent meeting with Mr Herbert, who will now be coming to see him at his office in Westminster early next week to discuss the issue in detail.
Commenting on this situation, Mark Francois said:
“I fully appreciate how important local Post Offices are to my constituents – indeed since I have been an MP I have had more communication from constituents about maintaining Post Offices than almost any other issue. I am pleased that the Post Office have given an early assurance that they intend to maintain a Post Office in Hullbridge but I want to meet with them next week to gather more information about exactly what they have in mind. Hullbridge needs a Post Office and as the local MP I intend to fight for one”.