Takeover by Co-op saves post office (From Witney Gazette)

Takeover by Co-op saves post office

9:00am Wednesday 29th November 2006 in Witney By Rosalind Miles

THE FUTURE of Long Hanborough post office has been safeguarded by a takeover by the Co-op.

From Thursday, November 30, the post office and newsagents The Tinderbox, in Main Street, will be run by The Midcounties Co-operative. The postmaster, Anuj Malde, will retain his job, as will all other staff.

The Co-op opened a food store close to the post office in July, and, because the store sold newspapers, The Tinderbox lost out on business, and there were fears the post office could be threatened.

Mr Malde, who has run the post office for five years, said: "I couldn't have hoped for a better deal. It's an excellent deal. With the new food store, I was losing business, but instead of doing me out of business, they have bought me out. The post office has always been profitable, there was no question of it closing, but now it will always be retained here. The staff are all staying. We will have all the same services, only the name will change.

"It's a really good thing for the village.

"With the backing of the Co-op, it's never going to move."

District councillor Stuart Brooks said: "Although it's sad that a local family business have had trade taken away, at least the post office facility will remain.

"It's good for the community that the Co-op have taken over."

Parish councillor Janet Braybrooke-Tucker said: "I'm delighted. It's very good for the village.

"This will guarantee the future of the post office, which is so important, especially for elderly people.

"Long Hanborough is quite a central village. A lot of villages around rely on us. We are delighted to keep Mr Malde.

"He is a lovely chap, and we don't want to lose him.

"It's a friendly place, and you get used to dealing with the same people.

"It's good to keep that face there."

Originally, the Co-op was planning to incorporate the post office into their foodstore, but due to the success of the new store, they did not have the space, and so decided to acquire the business, including the post office.

Jacqueline Frow, post offices manager for The Midcounties Co-operative, said: "As a locally owned co-operative business, we are very pleased that we have been able to retain this service for local people.

"This means that regular customers will be served by familiar faces."