TOWNSPEOPLE are banding together in an effort to save their existing Post Office from being closed and relocated into a nearby supermarket.

A six-week consultation is currently underway into the proposals for Helmsley’s Post Office – and local businesses and residents are being urged to make their voice heard.

Just last month Helmsley won the Great British High Street’s Best Market Town Award - sponsored by the Post Office - but now the business community says the proposed closure of the “vital” service is a threat to its ongoing welfare.

The chairman of the Helmsley in Business group, Lizzie Rohan, said: “It’s completely preposterous to even suggest closing our Post Office. It is a vital and heavily utilised resource for us as a rural community.

“Since it was announced I’ve spoken to many small business owners who may post 40 to 50 parcels a day, or who use the service daily for paying in cash.

“The proposed replacement of a local Post Office run in the town’s Costcutter would not provide the services so many of us rely on each and every day to keep our businesses running.”

She added: “It’s so important to take action. I know it’s a busy time of year but the six weeks are already ticking by.

“The proposals are also very vague, which again seems suspicious. Of course once these services are lost, they’re lost forever.

“But Helmsley is not the kind of town to sit back and just let it happen. We need to fight for this, and it needs as many of us as possible to take five minutes to send a note explaining briefly why we need this vital service.”

The Post Office is proposing to move Helmsley post office to Costcutter in Bridge Street and is inviting people to give their comments on the move in a six-week public consultation.

It would open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 8pm on Sunday, giving an extra 43 hours and 30 minutes of service every week.

The Post Office says the proposed move is part of a programme across the network to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer hours and modern environments.

The consultation will close on February 8. Submissions can be made by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 03457 223344 or Textphone 03457 223355.