MP and councillor ask local residents to support Oxenholme Post Office

Local MP Tim Farron has joined with Councillor Brenda Gray to ask local residents in Oxenholme to support the Post Office after the proprietor Bill Riddell said it could close.

The warning came after Bill visited Tim's advice surgery at ASDA Café last Friday. The branch is threatened because the local shop attached is struggling through a lack of local trade. Tim and the local community successfully campaigned in 2009-10 to get the Post Office to re-open the Oxenholme branch.

Tim has written to the Post Office asking them to step in and help Mr Riddell, whilst Brenda has asked the County Council to install some 20 minute parking bays outside the shop in a bid to boost trade.

Tim said: "The shop and Post Office are a vital community service that is much needed in the village. Working with Bill and Brenda I am committed to doing everything I can to defend the service.

"I have asked Post Office Limited to help and I am also calling on the County Council to support Brenda Gray's request for 20 minute parking bays. We need this request to been agreed and done quickly- the usual council red tape where this proposal is sat on a committee agenda for six months could mean that this business will close. I hope that local residents will join us and make sure they support the shop and help us keep a vital service open."

Councillor Brenda Gray added: "I am working with Tim and we will do everything we can to support the shop and Post Office. I have asked the county council to help provide parking bays to support the shop. Bill has told me that this will make a difference so I will keep pushing this. I hope that local residents join me and support a valuable local service with their custom."