Layton's Torsway Avenue post office WILL close on Wednesday despite Blackpool Council launching an 11th hour rescue plan.

The authority had offered to put up enough money to allow it to stay open. But The Gazette can today reveal town hall bosses have now pulled out of talks.

The decision was made after Post Office Ltd refused to delay the closure to allow further talks over placing council services in the branch.

Postmaster Julian Wigley was also paid severance cash and told to close – while Post Office bosses insisted negotiations were ongoing.

Council leader Coun Peter Callow claimed the whole negotiation process had been "a sham and charade" and Post Office bosses were "not genuine in their intentions".

In a statement, Post Office Ltd said it would continue negotiations to keep the branch open, but Blackpool Council said it could not gamble another penny of taxpayers' money.

Gamble

He said: "I think it's disgraceful and Post Office Ltd have led us up the garden path.

"We didn't expect them to be pulling such shoddy tactics.

"I wanted to protect people in that area who wanted a post office there, but that will now not be possible because if that branch closes we do not know how many customers will leave and how much more money we will have to put in to make the branch safe.

"I can't take that gamble with taxpayers' money, enough has already been wasted with them leading us up the garden path."

Coun Callow is calling for an investigation and a new regulatory body set up to oversee the mail industry, saying current watchdog Postwatch were "toothless tigers".

The Gazette's Stand up for Post Offices campaign saw more than 2,000 people sign a petition to keep the Torsway Avenue branch open.

Many of those were employees at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital and the nearby Parkwood unit who hailed the branch as a "vital amenity".

Coun Callow added: "The sad thing is the branch did not need to close.

"There was absolutely no reason for it. We were willing to put up the money to keep it open, but we cannot do that if the branch closes.

"I'm absolutely furious."

Mr Wigley said he was unable to comment on the story, but The Gazette understands he is still as keen as ever to keep the post office open.

The building will still remain as a newsagents and shop.

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said: "It's extremely disappointing Blackpool Council and the Post Office have been unable to come to an agreement.

"It's concerning the Post Office have paid a severance package to the postmaster while negotiations were taking place."

A Post Office Ltd statement said: "We continue to discuss with Blackpool Council their plans to fund a post office service in Torsway Avenue.

"However, the current branch is due to close on Wednesday April 30, as part of the process we follow under the Network Change programme."
Necessary

The Gazette's Stand up for Post Offices campaign saw vast support for 12 branches in Blackpool and the Fylde coast, which were due to be closed as part of nationwide closure scheme.

More than 9,000 people signed a petition asking bosses to rethink the decision to close 12 Fylde branches.

One branch, Lytham's Warton Street post office, was the only one of 58 across Lancashire to be saved from the axe.

Post Office Ltd says the closures – which should all happen by the middle of next month – are necessary to stem losses, which have been reported to be as high as £4m a week.