Publication of the list triggers a public consultation period during which members of the public and community groups and organisations will have a chance to put forward reasons to keep their local office open.

The consultation runs until August 26, 2008.

The offices recommended for closure in Huntingdonshire are Great Stukeley in Church Road, Catworth in High Street, Great Gransden in Fox Street, Great Gidding in Main Street, Holme in Station Road, Ramsey St Mary in High Street and Earith in High Street.


There will be a new mobile service for five hours a week at Catworth and for eight hours a week at Great Gidding and Holme.

In Great Gransden, Ramsey St Mary and Earith, other retailers will offer some postal services.

Other proposed closures:
Cambridge City - 33 Regent Street, 2a Trumpington Street, St John's Post Office in Hills Road. South Cambridgeshire - Grantchester, Fen Drayton, Impington, Arrington, Elsworth and Over. East Cambridgeshire
Soham, Ely and Little Downham. Fenland - Wisbech, March, Christchurch, Benwick. Peterborough - Oundle Road, Lincoln Road and Mayors Walk.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Post Office Network Change Group (CPONCG) which brings together the County Council, Peterborough City Council, the five District Councils, Postwatch East, Cambridgeshire ACRE and business and rural community support partners, has been working behind the scenes to ensure that Post Office Limited had all the relevant information on the nature and needs of communities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, in advance of the closure announcement.

CPONCG is now encouraging all Cambridgeshire and Peterborough communities affected by the proposed closure of their Post Office to make their views known during the consultation.

CPONCG chairman and county councillor Fred Yeulett said: "Much work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure that Post Office Limited's list of closures was informed by as much information as possible on the nature and needs of all Cambridgeshire and Peterborough communities, including potential future housing growth, levels of deprivation and any relevant transport issues."

Posters will be circulated to all communities on the closure list published by Post Office Limited with details of how the public can respond.
Information is also available at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange, by telephone on 08457 22 33 44 or by post at: National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team.


Councillor Mike Simpson, deputy leader of Huntingdonshire District Council, said: "Post Offices provide essential services, particularly in a predominantly rural area like ours. Many of their customers are people in the older age range who find it difficult to travel to the towns.

"Now we know which Post Offices are on the list it is vitally important that communities make their voices heard as loudly as possible. It appears a majority of closures are in conservative wards. We as a district council, along with our many partners, will do all we can to minimise the impact of any closures on businesses and the wider communities."

For more advice and information you can visit www.cambsacre.org.uk/services/advice_funding.htm

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