Could Lewes Post Office move into town's library?

A request that consideration be given to relocating Lewes Post Office into the local library is being supported by Liberal Democrats in the town.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Apr 2016, 12:13 BST
Updated 13th Apr 2016, 12:17 BST

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Janet Baah and Cllr Will Elliot outside Lewes Post Office SUS-160413-120124001Janet Baah and Cllr Will Elliot outside Lewes Post Office SUS-160413-120124001
Janet Baah and Cllr Will Elliot outside Lewes Post Office SUS-160413-120124001

Councillors Will Elliott and Rosalyn St Pierre, along with Janet Baah who is standing in the Lewes Bridge by-election, have supported the campaign to see the Crown Post Office stay open since it was announced it would be relocated once a suitable retail partner was found.

However, the group say if Post Office Ltd persists with its plans to close it, then they would support the idea to base the service in Lewes Library.

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Cllr Elliott said: “They would each bring more business to the other and they could both make significant cost savings.”

Cllr St Pierre has established that East Sussex County Council may welcome and give serious consideration to an application from Post Office Ltd to locate its services in the Library. The Library is already a hub for ESCC service information.

Janet Bahh said: “The county’s library service has always encouraged more visitors and in some areas this has included cafés and volunteer offices.

Cllr St Pierre has opposed the proposed reduction in opening hours of ESCC Libraries and believes that any added income from the rent of the Post Office can reduce the impact of local authority cuts on such a valuable service.

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She said: “I’m delighted with the response of ESCC. The county welcomes the opportunity for discussion and I will do anything I can to help bring this about.

“It will be a great benefit to the town centre and the traders. Having campaigned for the library for many years, I think this will benefit both the library and the post office.”

This morning, Post Office Ltd announced up to 61 branches will move into WHSmith stores.

When asked if the town’s branch would be one of the 61 potentially moving into a WHSmith store, a Post Office Ltd spokesperson said: “There is no change in the position regarding Lewes Crown Post Office which we are looking to franchise.

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“The announcement is a new 10-year commercial agreement with WHSmith which means up to 61 Crown branches moving to WHSmith stores over the next 12 months, but we have not finalised locations.

“The position with Lewes is that we have had registered interest from potential franchise partners and we are looking at that. When we have finalised detailed plans we will start a six-week public consultation and, following that, make a final decision.”

Click here for Post Office Ltd’s full announcement.

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Related topics:Post OfficeCouncillors