BARROWFORD is no closer to having a post office, nine months after the village’s closed, it emerged today.

Residents still have to travel to Nelson or Colne after deals fell through with no fewer than five potential partners. The facility in the Spar store at The Fountains, in Gisburn Road, closed without warning last February – leaving residents shocked.

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Around 26 people lost their jobs at the shop – with the opening of the Morrison’s M Local store next door, on the site of a former garage, widely considered the business’ death knell.

In May, the Post Office confirmed that it had appointed a new agent to re-open the branch, but the deal fell through and the tendering process had to be relaunched. Now it has emerged at least another four applicants have pulled out of the process.

Tory MP Andrew Stephenson said: “Ever since the closure of the old branch, I have been pushing for a new one to open as quickly as possible.

“The Government has invested significant sums of money in the Post Office to maintain the current number of branches, so there is funding to re-open a post office in Barrowford.

“I am therefore dismayed that over eight months on from the closure of the old branch, the Post Office has not been able to identify a new site in Barrowford.

“I appreciate that the Post Office needs to follow due process, but this has dragged on far too long.”

At the time, Labour’s Mark Porter warned villagers that granting planning permission for the new Morrison’s store posed a threat to both the Spar and its post office.

He said: “The reality is that councillors can’t continue to divorce themselves from the decisions they make and the consequences of their actions.”

Three other post offices are on offer in East Lancashire: Businesses can incorporate a Post Office Local into a Higher Baxenden shop in Accrington for £4,300-£4,900; Rising Bridge for £7,100-£8,000; and Hoddlesden for £8,800-£9,900.

Barrowford Cllr Christian Wakeford, added: “I’ve been contacted by many elderly residents who have really struggled to make alternative arrangements. It is really important that a new site for the post office is identified and opens without delay.”

See www.runapostoffice.co.uk for more details.