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Michelle Scrogham has urged the company ‘to look again’ at their decision to offload 115 of its branches within its 11,500 network.
If the plans are approved, Furness House post office in Barrow and the Kendal branch on Stricklandgate could potentially close.
They could also be transferred to retail partners or thousands of other subpostmasters across the country.
Post Office chairman Nigel Railton said the overhaul would offer a “new deal for postmasters” as the group look to boost postmaster pay by £250 million over the next five years.
The plans would see average branch pay doubled by 2030, with £120 million in additional pay by the end of the first year.
READ MORE: Cumbrian Post Office jobs and branches under threat amid overhaul
Mrs Scrogham said: “People rely on post office services and they are vital to communities. Royal Mail need to look again at these plans. We’ve seen lots of branch closures in recent years.”
Just last month the Post Office said it would not replace a branch on Barrow Island after it closed.
In a letter to residents, it said the postmaster had resigned and the space had been withdrawn for Post Office use.
READ MORE: Post Office branch ‘will not be replaced’ after closure
“We’ve only just had the Ramsden Dock Road Post Office on Barrow Island closed and they told us that was OK because people could go to Furness House,” Mrs Scrogham added.
“Now they want to close Furness House, so where are people supposed to go?
“I will be making the case strongly to Royal Mail executives and to the post office minister that these plans are not acceptable.”
Around 1,000 workers are employed across the 115 branches, while the Post Office also confirmed that hundreds of further roles are under threat at its headquarters as it looks to streamline back office operations.
We asked you to react to the news of Furness House Post Office potentially having to close.
Here’s what some of our readers said on Facebook.
Karen Ann Taylor said: “It’s indirectly discriminating against the older population who predominantly don’t use online services.
“Removing the ability to pay bills get their money out. It will put people in more debt. It’s a disgrace and local MPs should be lobbying.
“How can we have development industrially when we have no infrastructure to support the people coming here?”
Maria Keenen said: “Absolutely disgusted. The services offered by our post offices are fantastic. Not only are they a convenience for many, but the local post office also offers human contact for so many people that may be alone or lonely.”
Karen Mahaffy commented: “Post offices deliver essential services to the whole community but particularly those who are vulnerable and elderly.
“Not all members of our community can access digital finances and we need to maintain their access. The other issue is removing a service that is often many people’s only reason to come into town.
“At a time when we are trying to build up our town centre and increase foot flow removing an essential service will just impact further on the lack of people coming into town.”
Paul Banks said: “Another step closer to a cashless society.”
Barbara Harris said: “We lost our little Post Office in Roose last year which was devastating, any more closures would be horrendous.”
Donna Thompson commented: “I’m self-employed and use my local one a few times a week to bank cash to cover bills as the bank is closed by the time I finish work. My finances would be screwed without the local post office.”
Karl Mayall said: “It’s a joke especially as the local one to me (Barrow Island) has shut and left a lot of the community having to travel to Furness House to send parcels etc.”
Janine Yare commented: “There is no other post office in or near town centre. It would be idiotic to close it.”
