OSWESTRY’s mayor has weighed into the potential closure of the town’s Post Office to say that he and his council colleagues will be seeking a meeting with officials.

This week, it was revealed that Oswestry was on a list of 115 ‘Crown’ branches that could be closed, at worst, or taken over by a franchisee in a new system as the Post Office looked to cut costs.

This led to fears in the town that a vital service – included standing in for banks that have closed branches in Oswestry – would be removed, save for smaller options dotted around the town.

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Councillor Mike Isherwood, who is also a Shropshire unitary authority member for The Green Party, said the council has started the process of inviting officials from the Post Office to present to council about future options.

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He said: “This is very disappointing news as the Post Office in Oswestry provides much needed services to a wide range of people.

“I will be seeking a meeting with the Post Office to understand what can be done to safeguard this vital community facility.”

Meanwhile, North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan has said her petition, launched through her constituency website, has passed the 1,000-mark for signatures.

Mrs Morgan issued the petition on Wednesday when news broke that the Post Office in Oswestry – her constituency town – was in danger.

She also raised the closures in Parliament with Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Services, Small Business and Exports.

She asked: “Oswestry in my constituency is the second largest town in Shropshire and it serves a vast rural area stretching into Mid Wales and across north Shropshire.

“This is digitally excluded quite often because it doesn't have adequate mobile signal or broadband services.

“The full range of Crown Post Office services are absolutely essential.

 “Can the Minister provide some assurance that the full range of Crown Post Office services will remain in Oswestry and that the Post Office will take into account the fact that it is so important to retain these vital services in rural areas which are being deserted by commercial organisations like banks?”

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Mr Thomas replied: “No decision has been taken on to close any individual directly managed branch.

“But it is right that the Post Office looks at all its costs if we're going to achieve an increase in sub postmaster pay going forward.

“And in that regard and her wider point, it's important that the Post Office management this time, because previous management teams haven't always done so, consults properly with sub postmasters, with trade unions and with other stakeholders.”