People power ‘kept post office running’

7:29pm Sunday 20th July 2008

PEOPLE power is the route to saving threatened post offices, according to the postmistress of an East Dorset counter to have escaped the axe.

Sandra Eyres has run the Wimborne St Giles post office since 2001 and says that individual letters of support from villagers have kept her counter open.

Mrs Eyres received a letter from Post Office Ltd in June telling her that her facility in Wimborne St Giles Village Hall would not be included on a list of post offices in the county earmarked for closure.

"It's no good adding your name to a petition. The Post Office knows how many people use the local branch. The key thing is to explain why you need your post office," said Mrs Eyres.

"Villagers who wrote letters pointed out the lack of bus services in this area, and the fact that they would have to travel to Cranbourne for a village shop," she added.

Food, drinks, and greetings cards are among the items Mrs Eyres' sells from the shop space shared with the post office counter at the back of the village hall.

North Dorset MP, Bob Walter, told the Daily Echo that the efforts of people in Wimborne St Giles should be replicated elsewhere.

"Space for the post office has been provided at the back of the village hall. I think its an excellent example of how communities can work together to keep their post offices open," said Mr Walter.

Villager Patricia Hoddy said the post office was a lifeline to elderly people, describing it as part of the identity of Wimborne St Giles.

"It would have been a nightmare for the elderly people if the post office had closed. The bus service in and out of the village is virtually non-existant," said Mrs Hoddy.