A PUBLIC meeting has been called over controversial plans to close a town’s only Post Office.

The gathering on Friday (January 15) has been called by Ryedale’s Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake at the request of the Helmsley in Business group.

The group is leading the opposition to a Post office proposal to close the existing branch in Helmsley and relocate it within the town’s Costcutter store.

It is urging people from not just Helmsley, but local villages and communities such as Hawnby, Gilling, Oswaldkirk and Harome to attend the meeting, which will be held at 6pm in the town hall.

Group chairman Lizzie Rohan said: “If this closure goes ahead there is no doubt this will have a hugely detrimental impact on Helmsley as a town.

“It’s ludicrous that as winners of the Great British High Street Award last month – sponsored by none other than the Post Office – we’re in this situation.”

Suzanne Richardson, Post Office regional manager, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Helmsley and we are confident that this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”