A LANCASTER community has just one month to save its Post Office - in the face of controversial plans to close it down.

The move - at Primrose Hill - is in-tended to improve prospects for other local post offices, in particular Ullswater Road, 350 yards away.

But local people fear the area is about to lose an important amenity.

Local councillor Eileen Blamire - the Mayor of Lancaster - says: "Ullswater Road doesn't sound very far away but it is a very steep area. To walk from Primrose to Ullswater Road and back again is far too much for anyone who is old or who has problems walking.

"The Post Office has been there since I was a child it will be a real loss to the area."

She says that if the planned closure is given the go ahead, facilities should be transferred to another nearby shop.

A consultation exercise is due to end on February 3 and, barring a last minute U-turn, the office will close for good in March.

Eddie Herbert, the Post Office's head of area, says: "The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches.

"In the case of Primrose Hill, a dec-lining number of customers and the pros-pect of even less business once the Department of Works and Pensions transfers benefit payments to bank accounts, has prompted the subpost-master to want to leave.

"We have considered this request carefully and have concluded that if this office were to close, it would improve the prospects of the other offices."

Mr Herbert has promised consultation with customers - anyone can send their comments to: National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN.

January 9, 2003 09:00