
The Morecambe MP says she's been assured that no decision has been made yet on a potential closure of the town's main Post Office branch.
Lizzi Collinge was speaking as an online petition to save Morecambe Post Office has now gathered more than 600 signatures, with campaigners remaining concerned about its future.
It was revealed last month that more than 1,000 staff across the UK could lose their jobs in a radical shake-up as the Post Office laid out plans to stabilise its finances.
One option is the closure of up to 115 branches, said to be loss-making, including the site on Victoria Street in Morecambe town centre.
Ms Collinge (pictured below), told Beyond Radio this week:
“I am still concerned about the review being undertaken by the Post Office about the future of Directly Managed Branches like Morecambe.
"I know how vital the Post Office is for many of my constituents and I am keen for these services to remain accessible. I have met with the Post Office, who assured me that no decisions had been made on potential closures.
"I have also met the relevant minister who told me that the Government expects the Post Office to fully engage and consult unions, postmasters, and all interested parties as they develop their proposals.
"Directly Managed Branches are currently loss-making and franchised postmasters are under-remunerated so Post Office does need to make structural changes to make it sustainable for the future, while addressing the mistakes of the past.
"I continue to speak with the relevant parties, including looking for solutions if the branch were to close, to ensure residents in Morecambe continue to have good access to the services provided by the Post Office.”
Read more: Campaign to save Morecambe Post Office gathers pace - Beyond Radio
An online petition was set up last month by Morecambe Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Hart (pictured below), who said: "The post office is a vital service in the heart of Morecambe, and it must stay open.
"There are 3,500 people a week who use and depend on it. We can't start thinking that it can be downsized and stuck in the back of another store.”
At time of writing, 626 people had signed the petition at the Change.org website.
Morecambe Town Council has also agreed to write to Post Office Ltd urging them to withdraw any proposals to close the facility.
A strategic review of the Post Office business was called in May, by new chairman Nigel Railton.
Mr Railton said: "The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service and we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters. We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal.
"The value postmasters deliver in their communities must be reflected in their pockets, and this Transformation Plan provides a route to adding more than £250m annually to total postmaster remuneration by 2030, subject to government funding.
"It begins a new phase of partnership during which we will strengthen the postmaster voice in the day-to-day running and operations of the business, so they are represented from the frontline to the boardroom."
Mr Railton's £1.2bn transformation plans, which also include cutting the Post Office's senior leadership team in half and boosting postmaster pay by a combined £250m over five years, are yet to be approved by government ministers.