Campaigners rejoice as axed Hoxton Post Office is set to reopen
Plans to reopen an old Post Office in Hoxton have received a warm welcome following a two year campaign to restore the service.
Plans to reopen an old Post Office in Hoxton have received a warm welcome following a two year campaign to restore the service.
Murray Grove Post Office, which has been closed since June 2008, will be back in business by the end of November after a neighbouring chemist agreed to move in.
Chandrakant Patel of Murray’s Chemist, Murray Grove, has teamed up with Hackney Council to reopen the service.
Mr Chandrakant, who has just relocated his store to abandoned site, said: “I think the local community really wanted a Post Office from the beginning – it was a shame it closed down in the first place.
You may also want to watch:
“We wanted bigger premises so it worked both ways.”
The old Post Office was among seven branches in the borough shut down amid residents’ anger as part of Royal Mail cut backs.
Most Read
- 1 Covid fines worth £39K handed out in Hackney and Tower Hamlets
- 2 Campaigners launch legal challenge against Hackney LTNs
- 3 Old Street roundabout project moves into final phase
- 4 Shop Local: Stoke Newington entrepreneur launches dog accessory business
- 5 Jailed: 'Dangerous' Hackney predator found with 1,600 indecent child images
- 6 Hackney school pupils bag top spots in national architecture competition
- 7 'Common sense' prevails as Stamford Hill testing centre moved out of estate
- 8 Police appeal for help to trace wanted Dalston man
- 9 Union votes to strike over cuts at Hackney schools
- 10 Hackney road closures 'will cost lives', says volunteer ambulance service
Critics argued the closure would hit Hackney’s elderly and vulnerable residents hardest as many used the service to collect pensions and benefits.
Hoxton ward councillor Philip Glanville was one of the campaigners who collected over a thousand signatures calling for the service to be reopened.
“It’s fantastic news for Hoxton and Murray Grove especially,” he said.
This week’s announcement comes after a public consultation last summer showed widespread demand for the service.
Age Concern Hackney, a charity promoting the wellbeing of older people, added its support to the move.
Chief officer Olexandra Stepaniuk, said: “Post office services provide a vital face to face service for many of our older people.
“So it is good news that this service is returning to Hoxton.”
The Post Office, which will offer postal and banking services, foreign exchange and the sale of premium bonds, will be funded by the council for a maximum of five years with a review in two years’ time.
Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe, said: “We’re pleased to have found a partner who we believe will bring the right business skills and experience to run the Post Office successfully.
“Once the Post Office reopens, residents and businesses will need to support it by using it regularly to ensure the council can keep it open for them in the long-term.”