Popular post office closes its doors for the last time (From Evesham Journal)

Popular post office closes its doors for the last time

2:55pm Thursday 12th February 2009

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PEARL Bennett, owner of the Bengeworth Post Office, bid an emotional farewell to customers and staff on Monday as she closed the counter for the last time.

At precisely 1pm Pearl was forced to shut up shop for good after Post Office officials declared her branch would face the axe as part of the company’s series of cutbacks announced last June.

At that time five Vale Post offices were earmarked for closure, and, despite local opposition to the move including marches through Evesham and public meetings, the popular Bengeworth branch was selected as the one to go.

Pearl said: “I’m very upset, this Post Office has been in my family since 1966. Customers have organised a party for me, it’s lovely, we thought we would just go away quietly but they havn’t let us.

“John Jenkinson from the Evesham Hotel will be our last customer. He will be mailing a letter to Alan Leighton, chairman of the Royal Mail Group, letting him know how we feel and that we’re not impressed with his decision.

“I’m losing my business, I’ve not done any other job so it’s going to be tough and I don’t know what I’m going to do now. My customers have been totally amazing and I’d like to thank them for their support, ” she added tearfully.

The closure of the Bengeworth branch was attended by a number of local residents, including district councillors Emma Stokes and Martin King.

Coun Stokes said: “We helped orchestrate the campaign to save the branch to no avail, it was a phenomenal case that was just not listened to.

“I’m incredibly sad, it’s a loss to the community.”

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