Lib Dems Celebrate as Post Office Re-Opens

12.00.00am GMT Tue 10th Mar 2009

Lowerplace Post Office has been officially re-opened to the public after an extensive refurbishment programme.

The post office had been closed since last July after arrests were made when it was the victim of an armed robbery.

Local Councillors and dozens of residents descended for the opening of the new business which has been given a complete overhaul by Buersil Post Office Sub-Post Master Jay Patel.

Mr Patel purchased the business after his own Post Office had been earmarked for closure under Government plans to close 2,500 Post Offices nationwide. Luckily, Mr Patel was given special dispensation to keep Buersil Post Office open until his new business at Lowerplace was up and running.

Mr Patel said: "I am delighted that so many residents and local councillors turned out for the big opening. The support they gave to me last summer when they learnt of the planned closure of Buersil Post Office was immense and I cannot thank them enough.

"The new Post Office is much more suitable for the 21st Century now. Someone called it a modern convenience store, which I agree with. We will sadly be closing the doors at Buersil Post Office in a couple of weeks but I am delighted that we will be adding four new members of staff to our team as a result."

Balderstone and Kirkholt Councillor Dale Mulgrew said: "It really was a jubilant occasion to be present at what is a remarkably happy ending to a roller coaster ride of emotions for sub postmaster Jay Patel.

"We all saw him lose his Buersil post office due to last year's government closure programme, but through his hard work in raising the plight of the post office, he clearly became the natural person to take over the Lowerplace site".