A 600-name petition to the Post Office, demanding that a new operation be set up in Stansted, has been handed over by councillors.

Uttlesford District Council leader Alan Dean, deputy leader Peter Wilcock and Stansted Parish Council chairman Catherine Dean presented the petition, bearing 614 names, to retail line manager Dave Picking at the parish council offices on Monday.

The village's former post office in Chapel Hill was closed down in July 2003 and, since then, angry residents and councillors have been campaigning for its return.

The absence of a post office has forced customers to travel out of town, often to Elsenham two and half miles away, for stamps, collection of undelivered post and pensions.

Shopkeepers have been reluctant to offer their businesses as headquarters after the previous venue was shut down following a series of raids.

The cost of installing a security system to counter this problem has put off potential tenders.

Mr Picking said the Post Office was desperate for someone to come forward, but added that the petition had done nothing to help the situation.

"It has achieved nothing because we have always had the intention of opening a post office in this area," he said.

"We just need someone to say 'I am interested in being a sub-postmaster' and have premises to run the business from.

"It has never been a case of not wanting to do it. There is a perception that the post office gets all this done, but we don't - it's not up to us.

"We have been actively trying to find someone since the last post office was closed down.

"I do sympathise with the people of Stansted. The village is of a size where it should have a full-time post office."

Mr Picking said he was inspecting two premises tomorrow (Friday) and hoped the situation could be resolved promptly.

Cllr Alan Dean said: "A place the size of Stansted should have its own post office.

"Elsenham is overloaded and is inconvenient and costly to use."

Cllr Catherine Dean said: "The parish council has been working hard with the post office over the last year to try to find a venue, but none has been suitable.

"We are determined that this facility is essential to a village the size of Stansted."

Frances Spalding, 80, of Rainsford Road, said: "It's ridiculous. You have to go to Elsenham to get stamps and a pension, and I have to take my friends who don't have transport. It has been going on for too long."

Published Monday February 21, 2005

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