Red letter day - Lees Post Office Saved - Alcock

11.28.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 7th Aug 2008

There was jubilation today after a Chronicle-backed campaign to save a popular post office ended in triumph.

The announcement back in June that Lees Post Office would close sent shock waves through the local community.

But it resulted in huge campaign with Lees villagers pulling together to reverse the decision.

Chairman of Lees Community Association Simon Hedley said: "This is wonderful news.

"Everybody pulled together - it was the whole community that was helping to keep the village alive."

Sub postmaster Asam Rashid (31) found it difficult to contain his joy. But rules meant that he was not allowed to officially comment - so far.

Lib-Dem councillor Mark Alcock said: "We have been doing a campaign for each post office but we think Lees had a special case in that it is the hub of the community.

"We cannot understand why they came up with Lees. We think it was absolutely barking."

Other Oldham post offices earmarked for closure must wait a little longer to hear their fate.

News of Buckstones Road, Shaw; Egerton Street, Brackley Square; Greenacres Moor, Huddersfield Road; Lower Rushcroft, Shaw; Moorside, Ripponden Road; and Scouthead post offices is expected early next week.

One of the councillors involved in the campaign, Councillor Brian Lord, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the post office has been saved. It had such a strong case.

"The information which was used to make the decision in the first place was flawed. The right decision was to save it."

Chronicle readers weighed in strongly against the Lees closure.

Comments were added to Oldham Council's submission against the closure of local post offices.

Chronicle editor Jim Williams said: "Some of the responses highlighted the problems that elderly people - many in their late 70s and 80s - would suffer if their local post office closed."

Thankfully, in Lees there is no need to suffer and plans are already afoot for a party.

It will be held at Springhead Football Club, off St John Street, Lees, in the afternoon of Sunday, August 24, from noon.

Oldham Chronicle 07/08/2008