Woolbrook Post Ofiice's future unsure

THE FUTURE of Woolbrook s Post Office is hanging in the balance after its former owner was declared bankrupt

THE FUTURE of Woolbrook's Post Office is hanging in the balance after its former owner was declared bankrupt.

Post Office Ltd has vowed to keep services running from the Woolbrook Road premises after ex-owner and subpostmaster David Faint filed for bankruptcy last month. Its fate now lies in the hands of Official Receivers.

Baffled and saddened customers have been greeted by empty shelves this week after the premises' shop stopped trading on Saturday.

Post Office services continue to run from it and its temporary subpostmaster has vowed everything will be done to keep them going.

Sharon Fabry was drafted in from her Ottery St Mary business in November last year.

She said: "We will try and keep it open for the community- but whether we stay open is yet to be finalised."

"Its now in the hands of the receiver, if they don't want us here then there is nothing we can do. The Post Office has no intention of closing but it may be out of their hands.

"Every one sees the shelves are empty and wants to know what's going on. Some people have been quite sad.

"I think we are all shocked and stunned, such hard work has been done here, its such a shame.

Councillor Tom Cox, chairman of Sidmouth Town Council, said he and his wife are regular customers and described a potential closure as a "great loss".

Cllr Cox said: "It has been and I hope it still will be a really useful facility and a vital amenity for Woolbrook residents- a local shop run by local people for local people, in a key position."

"Larger establishments come and go in the night- we need our corner shops for continuity.

"This is very sad. We were all cheered immensely when it was refurbished not so long ago. The speed at which businesses are going under is like falling off a cliff- people don't have breathing space

"It's a terrible, terrible thing, if larger shops move on to bigger things we will be left with nothing."

Post Office Ltd said Mr Faint had "resigned" and it intends to maintain it's services in Woolbrook until "a more long term solution is found."

The receivers said it did not comment on the status of individual cases.

County and district councillor Stuart Hughes raised the issue to EDDC's executive board on Wednesday, asking the council to seek a firm commitment from Post Office Ltd that Woolbrook's services will remain in place no matter what happens to the premises and said members "took the issue on board.