LEADING local politicians are backing a campaign by an Anchorsholme newsagents to take over the running of a nearby post office when it gets the axe next month.

As reported in The Citizen on January 9, the Fleetwood Road Post Office, at Norbreck, has been under threat of closure after postal chiefs deemed the site redundant.

They suggested that local residents - many of whom are elderly or infirm - should look for alternative services as far away as Bispham and Cleveleys.

Now bosses at the regulatory body, Post Office Ltd., have confirmed a final shut down date for Tuesday, March 18.

And the closure is expected to lead the way for similar proposals over another Fylde post office on Easington Crescent in Blackpool, which sparked outrage from North West Euro-MP, Chris Davies (as reported in The Citizen on January 30).

But local business owners, Paul and Hayley Barker - who already own the Norbreck News - hope to gain backing from the Post Office Ltd. to take over the running of Fleetwood Road services.

Hayley said: "We've already approached the Post Office with our proposals to take over the running of the Fleetwood Road office.

"We've considered buying the office from its current owners when we originally opened the Norbreck News over a year ago.

"There are other post offices in the area, but the people living in the Fleetwood Road area regularly use the business and would miss it if it is taken away."

The father and daughter team now have the backing of the Euro-MP and local conservative leader, Councillor Peter Callow, who believe the community need the Fleetwood Road office open and active.

Mr Davies said: "The closure of Fleetwood Road Post Office will be a major inconvenience to local people, and in particular the elderly.

"I welcome moves to open a new post office in the area.

"And would like offer my assistance to local residents in making representations to the Post Office on this issue."

And Cllr Callow said: "It is a tragedy that the government are determined to wipe community post offices off the local map.

"And I believe that the closure of the Fleetwood Road office will have very damaging consequences for the area.

"Pensioners are being messed about and forced to live how the government want."

But head of area for Post Office Ltd., Eddie Herbert, says that the decision to end the Fleetwood service has not been taken lightly.

He said: "We received a number of representations and the main concerns were about the effect of the closure on the more elderly customers.

"While I appreciate that it will be inconvenient for some customers to use an alternative post office, I have taken into account the local terrain, parking and public transport.

"Having carefully considered all the points raised, I still believe that the permanent closure of this office is the correct course of action.

"The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business."