Alan Lumb, of Coombe Lane, teignmouth, writes:
At a time when communities both locally and around the country are campaigning to keep their local post offices, here in West Teignmouth we are told – not by the Post Office but, by the shop's owners – that they are voluntarily closing it, after more than 100 years at the end of Coombe Vale Road. Sadly this closure is being achieved without a whimper of surprise, protest or regret.
Everyone knows that the role of local post offices has changed, as with so much else in the financial sector, but it still has a vital role to play, especially in relatively disadvantaged communities like ours.
Post Office work is seldom the sole earner for these shops but is part of an ever widening range of goods and services they offer. Surely the way forward is to increase and improve this diversification and its presentation using all the support that is available through organisations like Business Link.
All shops are in business to serve communities not just to make money. If the former is forgotten the latter is unlikely to be achieved. Here in West Teignmouth we are about to lose a much loved post office only for it to be replaced by an off-licence. Is that what the community needs?
Let's hope, even at this late hour, some way can be found to maintain post office facilities in West Teignmouth.