Despite a hard-fought campaign by local people to keep it open, the sub post office has been allocated for closure by Post Office Ltd.

The shop and post office run by postmaster Alex Houseman for the past eight years is expected to close within the next two months.

Post Office Ltd earmarked the sub post office business for closure having reprieved Cold Bath Road post office in Harrogate in February.
With this latest closure, Knaresborough is left with one post office on the High Street to serve a community of more than 15,000 people.

"I am finding it difficult to find the words to express my anger at the decision to close Aspin Lane Post Office" was MP Phil Willis's reaction to the news.

"I cannot believe that the Post Office could take this decision. This is an important community facility not only serving the immediate area but the wider town. There is inadequate parking at the town centre post office whereas parking is not a problem at Aspin Lane.

"Indeed Aspin Lane was suggested as an alternative to Chain Lane when that post office was proposed for closure earlier in the year. I do not know what changed in the intervening period that suddenly made Aspin Lane a candidate for closure."

He added: "This is a slap in the face for the whole of Knaresborough who rallied round in a fantastic community effort to petition both the Government and Post Office Ltd to retain this post office.
I am appalled by this decision."

Alex Houseman, who hopes to retire following the announcement, recognised local people would be disappointed.
"It's nice for us, but not so nice for the people. We'd like to thank all our customers over the years for their wonderful support and loyalty."

Over the last five years, Knaresborough has lost three other post offices - Scriven, Calcutt and earlier this year, Stockwell Post Office.

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* See the Knaresborough Post edition July 25 for the full story.