A THREAT to Post Office services in rural South East Cornwall is a huge worry to local people, said Looe mayor and Cornwall Councillor Armand Toms.

Good news has come in No Man’s Land, where the Post Office located in the Bindown Stores re-opened yesterday after a closure of two months.

But Looe’s Barbican branch has been closed since October last year, leaving residents of the area with a long and steep walk to the branch at Quayfresh on the harbourside.

And a further blow has come with the news that just along the coast, the Downderry postmaster has resigned with effect from March 21.

A spokesperson for the Post Office said: ‘The Postmaster for Downderry has resigned, and the premises, which we don’t own, will be withdrawn for Post Office use.

‘To maintain service in the area, we are planning to run a temporary service whilst we search for a permanent new postmaster.’

The loss of Post Office and other services in outlying villages can make life very difficult for residents, particularly those reliant on public transport, said clerk to St Martin-by-Looe Parish Council Charles Hyde. No Man’s Land falls within this parish and many of its residents live in social housing, said Mr Hyde.

‘There has been a considerable cost to our parishioners in having to go to Looe,’ he said.

‘One person, who has to use the bus, said it has cost them an extra £5 to top up their electricity key.’

Mayor of Looe Armand Toms said he was working alongside the Post Office to try and find an alternative location for a replacement branch in the Barbican area of the town.

And the issue of loss of rural services will be on the agenda of the next Liskeard and Looe Community Network meeting, which Cllr Toms chairs.

‘This situation is very worrying,’ he said.

‘It appears that rural business is struggling. These are essential services for our communities which act as hubs for many activities supporting other rural businesses.

‘Post offices also act as banks for deposits and withdrawals (as many banks are not represented in our towns and some are closing).

‘Also an important issue is supporting the growing number of elderly in our community for pensions and other services.  Add all this together and it is very worrying.’

Nearest alternative Post Office branches for Downderry residents are Crafthole Community Shop or Torpoint, and as well as the central Looe branch in Quayfresh, there are branches in Duloe and in Pelynt.