Jackie calls it a day at post office with no customers

Reporter: KEN BENNETT
Date online: 17/02/2009

A stark letter from a Saddleworth woman who has resigned as a village postmistress highlights the plight of small businesses in rural communities.

Jackie Rodgers, who has run the familiar red-door Denshaw Post Office on Delph Road for more than three years, will close it next month.

Mrs Rodgers (53), said: “I am really upset. The shop has become a big part of my life.”

But in a specially-printed letter Jackie made available to customers over the shop counter, she writes: “In spite of a successful fight to retain a post office service during recent closure plans, it will close next month.

“Every effort has been made to maintain a viable business for the village but due to lack of support and custom I am unable to sustain the losses.

“The shop is well-stocked with most products priced on a par with supermarkets but it seems people do not spare the time to look.”

The mother-of-three, added: “I am disappointed only a small percentage of villagers use the shop when at a time of the proposed closure, I saw many unfamiliar faces from the village saying they would do all they could to support and keep it open.

“Unfortunately, these faces have not been seen since.”

Ward councillor Alan Roughley said the post office closure would be a blow.

He added: “Denshaw has an infrequent bus service so the closure of the last shop will create a serious problem for those without a car.”

Last year, after a six-week public consultation period and bolstered by a wave of local support, Denshaw post office, a familiar stop for travellers to and from junction 22 on the M62, was reprieved.

A year earlier, Mrs Rodgers faced staring down the barrel of a gun when three armed raiders burst into the post office and escaped with cash and other items. Despite a reward, the gang has not been traced.

A spokesman for the Post Office said Denshaw would close on a temporary basis from March 24 following Mrs Rodgers resignation, but has been unable to make alternative arrangements to maintain the service after that date.