Hunt for Post Office site after closure

Scholes’ Post Office sent its final letter on Wednesday January 28 because of a period of general decline, according to its postmaster Paul Bentley.

He said that a drop in salary due to less customers, people using direct debits more and the swap to email from letters were changes felt more strongly by smaller offices like the Scholes Lane shop.

But he confirmed that somebody may try to open a new Post Office in another part of the village.

Mr Bentley said: “I’ve tried through the Post Office reinvention scheme to offer it to other businesses in Scholes for the last two years, but there has been no interest in taking it.”

Over an 18-month period, the village’s Co-op has been approached twice he said, but according to Mr Bentley showed no interest.

Coun Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) thinks that could be because the shop is too small to develop a new mail service.

However, Baroness Pinnock and fellow councillors have been in talks with someone interested in opening up a new site. But a main barrier has been finding a location which is secure enough.

Coun Pinnock, of Peaseland Close, said: “It’s very sad and we’ve been doing what we can with one or two people who have the idea to keep a Post Office going.

“We’ve had a few discussions and given him some advice, but so far to no avail.”

It is the lastest blow for residents in the district who rely on offices close to their homes. In 2013, Birkenshaw’s Bradford Road service ended, leaving the nearest site in Gomersal – more than a mile away.

The nearest services to Scholes are now at Greenside in Cleckheaton, Halifax Roa in Liversedge, Spen Lane in Gomersal or Town Gate in Wyke.