'Vital' Council backs bid to save town post office

SOUTH Gloucestershire councillors voted unanimously to fight to save Yate post office but bickered about whether they should also battle against the closure of other branches and banks.

- Adam POSTANS

The town's Crown post office which offers the full range of services that smaller outlets don't, such as passport application checks and driving licence renewals is one of 108 across the country that are being offloaded by the Post Office to franchisees.

Although the organisation insisted last month that all of them would either stay in the same location or nearby, the fear is that if Yate's moves into a high-street shop, like many others have, its survival will depend on that retailer staying open and not collapsing or being taken over, like WH Smith.

A Liberal Democrat motion to a full council meeting of South Gloucestershire Council on Wednesday, May 21, submitted by Cllr Mike Drew (Yate North), received full cross-party support.

But an opposition Conservative amendment to extend its aims was voted down by the ruling Lib Dem/Labour coalition which said the changes would dilute it. It comes after a petition was launched by Thornbury & Yate Lib Dem MP Claire Young, the council's former leader, to save Yate's post office, which has been signed by more than 2,100 people.