Exclusive by Liz Tinsley and Hannah Costigan
Ludlow looks set to have a brand new Post Office – as part of a pilot scheme pioneered by supermarket giant Tesco.
Their was a public outcry earlier this year when the Post Office closed its doors in the East Hamlet Stores.
The Ludlow closure was part of a host of cuts across the country – shutting 2,500 Post Office branches.
It left the Post Office in the One Stop store at Tower Street covering the whole of Ludlow.
But tomorrow, another One Stop store will open on the former Raven site at Gravel Hill and, from October, the shop will include a small Post Office.
Tesco, which owns One Stop, has agreed to pilot the Post Office idea to see if it’s popular with locals. A spokesperson for One Stop said: “We are pleased to announce we will be trailing a new Post Office concept in our Ludlow store.
“We will be offering a number of Post Office services at a designated counter in our store and will have specially trained staff on hand to help with any enquiries.”
Ludlow MP Philip Dunne approached the managing director of One Stop about the Post Office idea for the new Gravel Hill store.
Peter Cook, president of Ludlow Chamber of Trade, said: “We are very pleased because it would preserve that amenity for the large number of residents up that end of town.
“There was a lot of concern at the public meeting that the other One Stop Post Office wouldn’t be able to cope.
He continued: “The chamber was involved in the beginning trying to save the East Hamlet Post Office. And the new One Stop idea was something we discussed with Philip Dunne so I’m glad the effort was worthwhile.”
