A former Burscough Bridge Post Office worker has spoken out following the branch's closure, saying staff have faced intrusive questions, online speculation, and criticism despite losing their jobs through "no fault" of their own.
Post Office Ltd confirmed the Liverpool Road North branch in Burscough Bridge closes today (July 22) due to "operational reasons."
The closure also led to the suspension of 11 outreach services operated by the Burscough Bridge postmaster, affecting communities including Rufford, Bescar Lane, Banks, Haskayne, Orrell, Longshaw, Moss Side, Hollinfare, Belmont, Salesbury, and Trawden.
In a statement shared on social media, a former employee said the closure had already been a difficult experience for staff before they became the subject of public discussion.
The worker wrote: "As most of you may know, I worked at the Post Office in Burscough Village, this closure has been hard enough for me and the rest of the team, with less than two week's notice followed by a sudden unrelated closure with no notice at all.
"This has been made far worse by the uproar and speculation on social media."
The former employee, who said they had worked at the outreach branch in Banks, said they had seen first-hand how the closures would affect local residents, particularly elderly customers who relied on the service.
They added: "On my last day there, I spent a lot of time talking to the elderly customers.
"I saw how these closures are going massively affect them first hand and I feel for those people who relied on the Post Office day after day and are going to be left stranded as a result, yet people on Facebook are patronising me for 'not knowing how it's going to impact the community'."
The worker said the reaction from some members of the public had left them feeling frustrated.
"However, the treatment the general public have given me and my former coworkers has been disgusting," they wrote.
The former employee claimed strangers had approached them while shopping to ask questions about the closure, while others had contacted them privately through social media.
They said: "I have had strangers over and over walking up to me, asking me about what happened, asking where their parcels are whilst I'm trying to do my weekly shopping.
"I have had private messages on Facebook and Facebook Messenger from strangers asking the same questions.
"I don't work for the Post Office any more, I politely don't owe you anything, I am not your friend, I'm not going to gossip with you, please leave me alone."
The worker insisted the post was not intended to gain sympathy but was instead a plea for people to respect the privacy of former staff members.
They concluded: "People need to mind their own business.
Read more
"We lost our jobs through NO fault of our own, we needed the Post Office as much as you do, please just let us live our lives and move on."
The comments come after residents, businesses, and politicians voiced concerns about the loss of the branch and its outreach network.
West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton previously said the closure had generated "significant concern" among residents and businesses and called on Post Office Ltd to replace the lost services as a matter of urgency.
Post Office Ltd has said it is continuing efforts to restore services in the area and is searching for potential retail partners to operate a replacement branch.
Customers have been directed to alternative branches including Burscough Town Post Office on Square Lane and Newburgh Post Office on Course Lane.
Share