Burton’s Member of Parliament, Kate Kniveton, and Staffordshire County Councillor for the Burton Tower Division, Conor Wileman, have come together to urge the Post Office company to ensure a postal service remains in the local community of Winshill.
The previous Winshill Post Office closed its doors for the final time on 28th June 2023 with no clear guarantee from the Post Office if or when a new service would be opened in the local area.
Ms Kniveton previously met with the retiring postmaster, Rupa Vakharia, who had been trying to identify a new postmaster to take on the role to continue providing a service which is an important pillar of any community.
Now, the two local community representatives are calling on the Post Office to step in and ensure that a service that residents rely on can continue into the future. Ms Kniveton has set up a petition on her website and is encouraging residents to join the campaign and urge the Post Office company to proactively ensure post office services remain in Winshill.
Commenting, Kate Kniveton said:
“Despite many advances in technology and changes to working practices, post offices with in-person counter services continue to provide an irreplaceable community asset.
“I pay tribute to the retiring postmasters of Winshill Post Office, Rupa and Parish Vakharia, who have been serving the local community for the past 18 years.
“Cllr Wileman and I are urging the Post Office to step in now and seek alternative arrangements to ensure that the valuable services that a post office provides can continue locally for the benefit of the community. We encourage residents to sign my petition to show the Post Office the strong level of feeling there is on this matter locally.”
Cllr. Conor Wileman added:
“It was a real shame to hear that Winshill Post Office was to close this summer - it is a vital and very convenient service for Winshill residents. The lack of a guarantee from the Post Office to retain a branch in Winshill gave cause for concern so I’m delighted that Kate has moved quickly to pursue a campaign and set up a petition to retain a local branch in Winshill.
“I look forward to making the case alongside Kate and I’m optimistic that we can achieve a good outcome for Winshill residents.”
