A PETITION to save rural sub-post offices from the threat of closure has attracted around 500 signatures. Postmistress Madeline Taylor and her husband Ray, of Hatherleigh Post Office, have warned that all rural post offices will be badly hit by the Government?s decision to pay benefits and pensions directly into bank accounts rather than through post offices, and many may be forced to close. They have made copies of a petition opposing the the Government?s decision to phase out post office card accounts available for customers to sign ? and in the last five weeks, they have gained 500 signatures. Madeline said: ?We have had a good response. We are lucky to have loyal customers here. ?I think people are signing the petition for two reasons: people want to keep post offices open and they feel people should have a choice. People are getting a bit fed up with being told what to do by this Government. ?Elderly people in rural areas simply have not got the same access to banks as people in urban areas have. ?A lot of the people who are signing the petition don?t have post office card accounts, but they just don?t think it should be taken away from post offices and people given no choice and told their benefits have to be banked.? Madeline added: ?It is a big part of our income.? But she said, aside from the financial issues, rural post offices were a vital part of community life. ?People come into us with all sorts of queries and seeking advice. The other day we had an elderly lady who wanted to know how she could go about getting some help with her gardening. ?The larger post offices just don?t have the time to deal with that sort of inquiry.? Copies of the petition have also been sent to Meeth and Merton post offices, as those in isolated rural areas could be the most severely hit by the changes. The petition remains available for new signatures in Hatherleigh Post Office.
