Bampton residents say they were given just a week’s notice before the village post office closed down at noon last Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Bampton Trust said: “On Wednesday, July 20, Dan Brown who, together with his partner Justin, runs the Bampton shop and tearoom, was contacted by the Post Office area manager to tell him that the post office counter in the shop was to close as from July 27.”
The post office in Bampton — in the shop and tearoom — was said to be an integral part of the community.
“As only one bus a week visits Bampton, villagers would use the post office to drop off parcels, get cash out and also pick up their pensions. Whilst doing this, they would make use of the facilities offered by Dan and Justin in the shop,” said the Bampton Trust spokesman.
He added: “The reason given for the closure was the retirement of the supply postmistress who had been keeping the post office open whilst Dan was completing his application to become postmaster himself. Members of the local community, for whom the post office was a lifeline, feel very aggrieved over the situation.”
One member of the community, Chizzer Childs, has also started a petition, which has been left on the shop counter for people to sign.
The community understands that Post Office is set to offer an outreach service to be held in Bampton Memorial Hall one morning a week for 90 minutes. A member of the village hall committee said the Post Office pays the hall £5 per hour which they described as “pretty big savings”.
It is hoped that plenty of signatures will be added to the petition before it is sent to Penrith and the Border MP Neil Hudson.
Another Bampton resident said: “I thought the Government was trying to help keep village communities alive, but it seems the Post Office just wants to save money.”
A Post Office spokeswoman said the postmaster for Bampton had resigned and the branch was temporarily closed from noon on Wednesday, July 27.
“We know how important a post office is to a community and we are working hard to restore service next week. We are finalising plans to introduce an outreach post office.
“The postmaster for Appleby is to operate this service at the Memorial Hall every Wednesday from 9am to 10.30am.
“In the interim, alternative branches include Shap or Askham mobile, which operates in the car park at Askham village hall on Tuesday from 1.45pm to 2.05pm.”
