IMPASSIONED campaigns to save four post offices from the axe appear to have been in vain -but protesters in two of the affected communities are vowing to fight on. Post Office Ltd confirmed this week that it intends to close all the South Lakes, Eden and Furness branches on its original March hit list, despite a major public outcry and high profile campaigning in three villages. Not only that, the company has added an extra branch to the closure list – Little Langdale, near Ambleside, which rep-laces a reprieved carlisle.gov.uk" target="_blank">Carlisle branch and brings the number of post offices now being closed in the area to 19. Though there will now be a six-week consultation period for the closure of her branch, Marian Cheung, sub-postmistress of Little Langdale said that she was sad to see her branch close but admitted that there were not enough customers in the village to keep it viable. News of the closures have been received with particular disbelief in Greenodd and Beetham where the communities fought high profile campaigns to save their branches. Janet Willis, sub-postmistress at Greenodd post office, which is to be replaced with a part-time outreach service, said the closure decision would be challenged because, she claimed, it was based on inaccurate assumptions on the part of the Post Office, such as the local population figure. Campaigners at Beetham also plan to fight on. Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said the fight will go on to save Greenodd and Beetham post offices, both of which made very good cases to be kept open.

For story in full see the June 20 Westmorland Gazette.