A PETITION has been launched in a last ditch effort to save Cuddington Post Office.

The post office, was due to temporarily close on February 9 while the Post Office found a replacement for Robert Dickinson, who was retiring.

But since then it has appeared on a hit list for closure and it will remain open until a consultation period ends on March 14.

Residents have expressed their disgust with the decision of possible closure.

Chris Alvin said: "As someone who uses this post office every day I'm baffled as to the reasoning behind its proposed closure. There is always a steady queue of customers using its services.

"It's ideally placed in the village with easy access and lots of parking nearby.

"I for one will be inconvenienced daily and will have to travel further to do my job."

Borough Clr Val Godfrey also expressed her concerns.

She said: "I was amazed to hear that the Post Office was planning to close the Cuddington Post Office. It wasn't part of the original consultation and when I asked for the reason I was told that it was because a post office in Chester had been saved and they needed to find another one to close.

"Words fail me."

Clr Godfrey said a leaflet had given details of the nearby branches but there was no bus service from Norely Road to either Sandiway or Weaverham.

She said: "For our older residents without transport it's simply too far to walk.

"We've all been really well looked after by our current post master - there's a lot of sadness at his retirement - but that shouldn't mean that we lose the service.

"Even if the closure goes ahead we must fight to ensure that at least an outreach service is provided within the same part of the village."

She added: "There's a lot of anger in the village that such a vital facility might be lost - I would urge everyone to sign the petition, at the Post Office or at the hairdressers or the bakers on Norley Road, opposing the closure and to write to the curiously mis-named Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd., c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM."