Guildhall Labour candidate Fiona Fitzpatrick and local activist Harriet Bailey with the wreath
Guildhall Labour candidate Fiona Fitzpatrick and local activist Harriet Bailey with the wreath

Members of the Guildhall Ward of York Labour Party turned out to mark the closure of York’s Crown Post Office in Lendal last week. After last year’s decision to move Post Office services to WH Smith in Coney Street, the Post Office closed its doors after more than 130 years serving the people of the city, despite a petition from the local residents, with support from Labour and the Communications Worker’s Union which drew more than 3,000 signatures.

Guildhall branch have resisted attempts to close Lendal Post Office in their ward, including applying to have it registered as a Community Asset. On Wednesday 3rd April, members of the branch were outside as the doors were closed for the last time. A very sad occasion. A wreath made of stamps was held by Harriet Bailey and candidate Fiona Fitzpatrick. Members Chris Brace and Roger Pierce were interviewed for the BBC One Show, to outline their concerns.

Lendal Post Office was one of the last Crown Post Offices still operating in the country, and was purpose built in 1884 by Henry Tanner. York Central MP Rachael Maskell referred to the sale saying “We must do everything possible to ensure these valuable spaces are kept in public ownership and not flogged off for a one-off capital receipt and shareholder profit”

York Labour Party strongly campaigned the closure, but unfortunately the ruling Lib-Dem/Tory coalition in council chose to do nothing to oppose it, or the sale of the property, leaving it as yet another victim of the current government’s policy of selling off Britain’s most valuable assets for quick profit.

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