Post office closes as postmistress retires

The post office at Golden Cross Service Station is closing. Current postmistress Maureen Tarry-Smith is retiring on Friday.

Post Office Ltd has advertised for a replacement for the 'temporary' closure.

But John Ryeland, owner of the service station, told the Express the closure would be permanent.

He said: 'The facilities will be closed down on a permanent basis now. When Maureen retires it will be time to call it a day. The service station will still be open.'

Mr Ryeland said the post office counter was not affordable long-term. Post Office Ltd had also not approached him about a replacement postmaster or postmistress.

The news comes just weeks after branches in Upper Dicker, Willingdon and Wannock learnt they were being scrapped.

Mr Ryeland believed Post Office Ltd should keep the Upper Dicker branch, closest to Golden Cross, open.

Wealden MP Charles Hendry was furious when he received a Post Office Ltd letter saying the closure was temporary.

He said: 'It is inconceivable that they did not know the situation about Golden Cross when they were consulting on the closure of Upper Dicker post office. Post Office Ltd could readily have recommended Golden Cross for closure, which the owner would evidently have accepted, rather than Upper Dicker, where both the subpostmaster and customers are completely opposed to closure.'

Mr Hendry is requesting that the decision to close the Upper Dicker branch be suspended.

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