11 April 2011
Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown today welcomed the news that a new Post Office will open in Stratton, Gloucestershire, almost three years after the previous Post Office in the village was shut as part of a national restructuring of the network.
The new Post Office Local at Stratton Stores will open begin offering services on May 4th. This is the first time that this concept has been trialled anywhere in the country and Stratton will see the introduction of an open plan Post Office offering extended opening hours of 0700 BST to 2100 BST, seven days a week, providing increased convenience for customers. The new scheme will also create 5 new jobs.
John Lafford, the owner of Stratton Stores, is making a considerable investment in this arrangement and is highly confident that the venture will be successful, it will however need to be commercially viable for both John and Post Office Ltd and in welcoming the opening of this branch Mr Clifton-Brown urged the local community to support the branch.
Commenting on the opening John Lafford said: "We fought a long battle to stay open, supported by hundreds of local people from Stratton, the surrounding villages and our local MP.
"To our bitter disappointment it wasn't enough and in 2008 the Post Office withdrew its support and made the post master redundant.
"But we never gave up hope and I've been talking to them ever since to see how we can bring back this vital service.”
On hearing the news Mr Clifton-Brown commented: “I am absolutely delighted with this news. The closure of the Post Office in Stratton in 2008 was a huge blow to the local community.”
“The problems this caused in forcing people to go to Cirencester to access the Post Office there were considerable.”
“This campaign has been led exclusively by myself and local Conservative Councillors, in conjunction with John Lafford. Both John and the Post Office must be congratulated for negotiating this innovative solution to provide the local community with a Post Office service.”
“This is wonderful news for the people of Stratton and the surrounding villages, and I very much look forward to the opening on May 4th.”
Local Councillor Peter Braidwood, who was also heavily involved in the campaign, also welcomed the news: “This is great news for the local community. I am thrilled that this long, hard campaign by Geoffrey, our Conservative Councillors and John Lafford has finally paid off and this vital service has returned to Stratton.”
The new Post Office Local at Stratton Stores will open begin offering services on May 4th. This is the first time that this concept has been trialled anywhere in the country and Stratton will see the introduction of an open plan Post Office offering extended opening hours of 0700 BST to 2100 BST, seven days a week, providing increased convenience for customers. The new scheme will also create 5 new jobs.
John Lafford, the owner of Stratton Stores, is making a considerable investment in this arrangement and is highly confident that the venture will be successful, it will however need to be commercially viable for both John and Post Office Ltd and in welcoming the opening of this branch Mr Clifton-Brown urged the local community to support the branch.
Commenting on the opening John Lafford said: "We fought a long battle to stay open, supported by hundreds of local people from Stratton, the surrounding villages and our local MP.
"To our bitter disappointment it wasn't enough and in 2008 the Post Office withdrew its support and made the post master redundant.
"But we never gave up hope and I've been talking to them ever since to see how we can bring back this vital service.”
On hearing the news Mr Clifton-Brown commented: “I am absolutely delighted with this news. The closure of the Post Office in Stratton in 2008 was a huge blow to the local community.”
“The problems this caused in forcing people to go to Cirencester to access the Post Office there were considerable.”
“This campaign has been led exclusively by myself and local Conservative Councillors, in conjunction with John Lafford. Both John and the Post Office must be congratulated for negotiating this innovative solution to provide the local community with a Post Office service.”
“This is wonderful news for the people of Stratton and the surrounding villages, and I very much look forward to the opening on May 4th.”
Local Councillor Peter Braidwood, who was also heavily involved in the campaign, also welcomed the news: “This is great news for the local community. I am thrilled that this long, hard campaign by Geoffrey, our Conservative Councillors and John Lafford has finally paid off and this vital service has returned to Stratton.”
