A MAJOR working group has been set up to fight post office closures in Cambridgeshire. Post Office Limited is closing 2,500 branches across the country as it aims to stem the losses of the network, which it puts at nearly £4million each week. Around 25 br

A MAJOR working group has been set up to fight post office closures in Cambridgeshire.

Post Office Limited is closing 2,500 branches across the country as it aims to stem the losses of the network, which it puts at nearly £4million each week.

Around 25 branches in the county are believed to be under threat, with up to a quarter of those in Huntingdonshire.

Now Huntingdonshire District Council has joined with Postwatch, the county council and Cambridgeshire ACRE in a bid to safeguard the need of local communities.

The group, called the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Post Office Network Change Group, also includes business and rural community groups, as well as the other district councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough City Council.

Its aim is to ensure any decisions on the closure of post offices in the county take account of areas of deprivation, new road schemes and the needs of local communities.

It is also likely to champion the cause of Fenstanton Post Office, which is losing some custom due to the temporary closure of the Low Road to repair a bridge.

Sir Peter Brown, county council cabinet member for communities, said: "There are a number of areas within both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that are deprived and we want to ensure that these areas are protected from the proposed post office closure and have their current level of service maintained.

"It is important we ensure Post Office Limited is made aware of future house building and new communities like Northstowe and take account of their future needs."

A delegation from the group, led by Sir Peter, met with Post Office Ltd on yesterday (Tuesday) to present a dossier detailing the needs of communities in Cambridgeshire.

Sir Peter added that they will keep a close eye on the proposals for the county put forward by Post Office Ltd.

More than 2,000 people have already signed a Hunts Post petitions pledging their support to Huntingdonshire post offices - with numbers rising daily.

HDC leader Cllr Ian Bates said: "Post offices are an integral part of our rural and market towns within this district. They are essential and fulfil a social function within the community."

Post Office Ltd will announce which post offices in Cambridgeshire will face the axe on July 8, after which a six-week consultation period.

INFORMATION: You can sign our Protect Your Post Office petition at many post offices in Huntingdonshire, online at www.huntspost24.co.uk or by calling into our offices at 30 High Street, Huntingdon.