There are ‘no plans’ to relocate a post office serving a Berkshire village following its sudden closure.
The Post Office branch in Hurst closed its doors on Friday, December 14, just weeks before the festive period.
It comes with the closure of the Hurst Village Shop, which has served the village’s community for more than 110 years.
A post on social media last week: “We’re so sorry for all the inconvenience this is going to cause and would like to thank you all for your support and kindness throughout our time at the shop.”
While the closure of the shop is outside the control of the Post Office, concerns have been raised that the choice not to look for a replacement is ‘not acceptable’.
MP for Wokingham Clive Jones said the closure – right before Christmas – was a ‘crushing blow for the community’, forcing residents to travel to Wokingham or Twyford for essential services.
Although both are a short drive away, these won’t be easily accessible for those reliant on public transport, Mr Jones said.
He wrote in a letter to Ian Johnson, Area Change Manager at Post Office Ltd: “The post office is a focal point for a community, providing vital services on which people rely.
“This is all the more true in a small rural village like Hurst. For many, the Post Office is a lifeline.”
The Liberal Democrat MP continued: “To have taken just four days to decide Hurst no longer needs a Post Office does not suggest a reasonable assessment of the impact if that decision can have been taken.”
A spokesperson from the Post Office said: “The operator for Hurst Post Office has resigned and the premises where the Post Office was situated has been withdrawn.
“We apologise to local residents who have used the branch to access our products and services.
It comes after the village shop was saved from closure just 18 months ago.
In April 2023, manager Jayne Overington announced that it would be closing down – but support from local residents meant it could stay open for many more months.
Three months later, it was confirmed that the store would be given a temporary reprieve, with owners urging locals to use the store more frequently.
