MP for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, has met with local councillors and senior representatives from the Post Office to discuss the future of the Post Office in Countesthorpe.
Alberto organised the meeting following the recent closure of the village’s Post Office in February after the resignation of the Postmaster – since then, residents of Countesthorpe have needed to travel to alternative Post Offices in Cosby, Whetstone and Blaby.
The meeting was attended by Richard Hall, External Affairs Manager for the Post Office, Leicestershire County Councillor for Cosby & Countesthorpe, Les Phillimore, and local business owner, Esta Charles, who is interested in taking on the new Post Office.
Alberto said, “This was a very productive and useful meeting with the Post Office, Councillor Phillimore and Esta. The Post Office is a hugely important local asset for our communities, and of course, Countesthorpe is no different. I know constituents were deeply concerned by the closure of the village’s site last month, however the Post Office, Councillor Phillimore and Esta have been working hard on behalf of local residents to secure the future of this service for the community in Countesthorpe”.
Leicestershire County Councillor for Cosby & Countesthorpe, Les Phillimore said, "The need to re-establish Countesthorpe’s Post Office is critical to local residents, those without cars, the elderly and infirm, businesses and to the digitally excluded. There is a potential golden opportunity to work with an existing businessperson within Countesthorpe and I urge the Post Office to think outside of their standard co-locating business model and to re-establish a Post Office in Countesthorpe as soon as is possible. I am grateful for the support from Alberto Costa MP and his office in helping me tackle this critical issue".
Alberto added, “I should like to reassure my constituents in Countesthorpe that there is a strong willingness on all sides to see a Post Office reopen in the village as soon as possible, and my office will continue doing it all can to support the process. My sincere thanks to both Esta and Councillor Phillimore for all of their fantastic work on behalf of their local community; and I do hope to see the Post Office restored for the people of Countesthorpe in early course”.
