Last day for post office
11:32am Friday 28th March 2008
Farnhill Post Office will close for the final time today after losing its fight to stay open.
The axe fell after a six-week public consultation and is part of the Government's programme to close up to 2,500 Post Office branches in the UK.
Efforts by residents and councillors in recent weeks had raised hopes that Farnhill might escape, but it was not to be.
Sub-postmaster Michael Hilton, 75, who has run the post office for 19 years, said he had been "absolutely gutted" when he had heard the decision.
"I could not believe they were going to close us. It's the last lifeline for people in the village and now there's nothing. All the other shops have gone," he said.
Mr Hilton even suggested to the Post Office that the Farnhill branch could be kept open with reduced opening hours.
"I offered to open just on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, but they wouldn't accept it," he said. "I don't blame the people from the Post Office, though, it's the Government that says they must close 2,500 branches."
The closure means villagers will have to travel to Cross Hills to reach the nearest post office.
However, Mr Hilton has offered to make the journey to collect pensions for housebound Farnhill residents.
"It's ridiculous," he said. "Frankly, there aren't any buses. How can you expect ladies of 80 to get across the busy road to Cross Hills on their own? I couldn't rest in my bed knowing those ladies couldn't get their pensions."
Mr Hilton now plans to retire and take a well-deserved break.
Farnhill resident Arthur Lofthouse, 87, said: "I've been drawing my pension from the village post office for 22 years and now it's just gone. We've lost everything. It's ludicrous.
"I'm having my pension paid straight into my bank now. Luckily, I'm able to do that whereas lots of people can't."
Mr Lofthouse paid tribute to Mr Hilton's efforts over the years.
"Michael's been a marvellous postmaster all this time, always telling people what's best to do. It's terrible what they've done to him," he said.
"Those whizz kids in London might think they know what they're doing, but they don't."
Independent Royal Mail watchdog Postwatch visited Farnhill last month after residents and parish councillors said the Post Office's initial access report was incorrect, raising hopes of a reprieve.
They claimed the proposals contained inaccurate information about the bus service between Farnhill and Cross Hills.
But the Post Office said a further comprehensive review had been carried out and it still felt there was reasonable access to the suggested alternative branches.