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Locals protest over closure of 'vital' post office

BBC Fran Vandelli, Mubashir Akhtar and Jumana Akhtar. They are all sitting on a turquoise sofa. Fran has short pink hair and is wearing a cream turtle neck with a black coat and blue jeans. She is holding a cardboard sign with six pieces of white card on it, each with a note about the distance to other post offices. Mubashir is sitting in the middle. He has glasses, short dark hair and a beard. He is wearing a grey jumper and is holding a white sign reading "Malmesbury Needs Post Office 7 weeks is too long! 5 miles is too far!" Jumana is sitting next to him. She is wearing a blue hijab and a purple jumper. All of them are looking at the camera. BBC
(L to R) Fran Vendelli, Mubashir Akhtar and Jumana Akhtar are calling for a better alternative

A man has organised a five mile (8km) walk to protest against the seven-week closure of a town's "vital" post office.

Mubashir Akhtar, from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, is one the town's residents who are criticising plans to ask customers to travel about five miles (8km) to Sherston, Crudwell, or Tetbury in Gloucestershire while the closure is in place.

The temporary move has been organised while the Co-op, where the Malmesbury post office is located, closes to undergo refurbishment.

A Post Office spokesperson apologised for the disruption to customers.

Mr Akhtar is embarking on the five mile (8km) walk from Malmesbury to Tetbury to "show how hard it is" for those who do not own a car or have mobility issues.

The journey will take him about two-and-a-half hours.

Although there are buses running between the two towns, a trip can take up to two hours to complete because of the infrequency of services.

Mr Akhtar said: "I spoke to an elderly couple who get their pensions [from the post office].

"There's another who said they pay their utility bills through the post office and they don't know what they're going to do."

Mubashir Akhtar Mubashir Akhtar, right, and his son, Ibrahim Akhtar, stood outside the Co-op and post office in Malmesbury. They are wearing coats and hats, with high-vis jackets, and Mubashir holds a white piece of card with the words "Malmesbury needs post office" on it.Mubashir Akhtar
The Co-op and the post office inside are closing for a seven-week refurbishment

His wife, Jumana, said the closure will cause "a bit of an issue".

"I work full time. Royal Mail don't give me a certain [delivery] time and I can't always be here, they don't come in the evenings when I'm at home."

Mrs Akhtar added that there is another post office near her workplace, but she has to take time out of her working day or find time afterwards to go.

"It lengthens my day. I've got kids, it's not suitable," she said.

Google Google maps street view of the Co-op along Malmesbury's High Street. The building is grey with a blue Co-op logo on the top. A trolley, a red post box a newspaper stand are outside the shop. A Co-op sign and post office sign are on the side of the building. Google
The Co-op and the post office inside are closing for a seven-week refurbishment

'Ridiculous' decision

Fran Vandelli, a resident of more than 20 years, said the local post office is "really important".

"They've closed all the banks on the High Street so I use it to pay money into my bank account.

"This time of year, it's really been driven home how dependent we are on the post office.

"I think the post office owes us customers a service," she added.

In December, the Post Office ruled out a temporary mobile branch for the town because the demand is "too great" - a decision which Phil Exton, the mayor of Malmesbury, called "ridiculous".

"We are a rural town. We have no banks - we did have three banks - one's now a charity shop, one's a coffee shop and one's just become an Italian restaurant.

"We've got a generation of residents who don't do internet banking.

"The post office to them is vital."

He added: "It's ridiculous when [the Post Office] turn round and say that if the town was a bit smaller they could give us something.

"Because the town is the size that it is, they won't do anything.

"There must be an alternative out there, it's just the case of them finding it and getting on with it."

Post Office A red Ford transit Post Office van being used as a mobile branch. The vehicle is covered in graphics showing customers what services it offers, including banking, post, returns and bill payments. Post Office
The Post Office will not provide a mobile branch in Malmesbury

A Post Office spokesperson said: "We sincerely apologise for the disruption customers that use Malmesbury post office will face when the store, where it's located, undergoes a refurbishment.

"We ask that our customers consider using Sherston post office which is accessible by public transport and is open long hours seven days a week.

"Alternatively Tetbury post office is located a short distance away by car."

The Malmesbury post office will be closed from January 13 until March 6.

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