21 October 2008 - Andy Read - © Hellmail Postal News

A tiny 150 year old Post Office in someone's front room in Stroud, Gloucestershire has become only the second Post Office to be saved in the UK.

It took a high court injunction, a 73-year-old grandmother, and lots of patience by the parish council, but last night agreement was reached and Stroud Town Council have confirmed that the Uplands post office is to re-open in 3 weeks time. The reopening heralds a possible blueprint for other rural post offices fighting to stay open.

The post office, which closed in August, created a huge public outcry and civic leaders pulled out all the stops to reinstate the service which serves many elderly and disabled residents.

Local pensioner, Mary Davies, aged 73, challenged the decision made by Post Office Ltd and with help from lawyers, managed to establish a last-minute stay of execution in London’s High Court. At this point Post Office chief executive Alan Cook intervened and further discussions followed by the town council to estabish funding for the Uplands Post Office.

The Uplands post office is the only standalone post office to be saved so far, from the 2,500 earmarked for closure.

Stroud Mayor John Marjoram said it had been a real battle but a cause worth fighting for:

"It often seemed like mission impossible. Every time we won an argument, the question was changed. There were times when I almost gave up hope. People told us we were wasting our time, as closure was a foregone conclusion. But this proves that if you believe in something you must never give in."

The Town Council is to provide £10,000 of funding for the service this year and up to £25,000 for the next two years.

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