HASLEMERE has been branded as “being out on a limb” after the impending threat of closure of its last remaining post office and cuts in other essential services to the town and its community.

Now borough councilor Robert Knowles, and former leader of Waverley Council, has called on Haslemere’s MP Jeremy Hunt to “actively intervene” in closures and changes which are leaving the town and its residents at a distinct disadvantage.

He said: “Haslemere doubtless suffers by being a border town, far from Surrey County Hall in London, and NHS services centred on north west Surrey. But the closure of two banks, the last remaining post office, and stroke services being removed to remote units in north Surrey, leaves Haslemere with little in the way of services.”

Mr Knowles made his damming comments about the state of the town’s services and facilities, following last month’s announcement, in The Herald, of the likely closure of the historic and busy town centre post office in West Street.

The current manager is expected to bow out when the lease expires in early July and unless someone can be found to take it over, the West Street post office faces closure. That would leave townsfolk having to travel to Fernhurst, Hindhead or Milford for their nearest sub-post offices.

Mr Knowles said:?“Councillors have asked Jeremy Hunt to make representations to the Post Office, and suggest that a town with over 14,000 inhabitants should have a post office.”

The iconic building, which is now looking decidedly unloved and believed to be owned by an investment company, is being marketed for rent by Godalming chartered surveyors Gascoignes.

Gascoignes valuation surveyor Rod Walmesley said: “The big problem for Haslemere is the retail offering is not strong enough to keep people there.

In the meantime William Carroll, assistant manager for Haslewey Centre, in Wey Hill, told The Herald, on Wednesday, it was still pursuing its plan to provide Post Office services at the community centre. 

He said: “Haslewey remains committed to providing the community with a local post office and discussions with the Post Office head office are on-going.

“As with most of these things, we have faced a lot of bureaucracy at the post office. However, we have responded positively to all of their requests and are now awaiting the approval of our application.

“We are confident the Haslewey application will be approved and once the decision has been made, we will need to fundraise for part of the set-up costs.

“Our aim is to have the post office up and running by September, although this will depend largely upon the public support.”

The move to keep postal services in Wey Hill came after the demise of Lion Green post office last year when M&S Food took over the former Co-op supermarket.

Mr Knowles said he had also asked for a review of health services in Haslemere and surrounding villages as a matter of urgency, as stroke services were moved from Guildford’s Royal Surrey County Hospital, in January, to Frimley Park, “without any consultation whatsoever”.

Another of the town’s borough councillors, Carole King, said, “It seems this corner of Surrey does not matter anymore, with so many closures, but the move of stroke services to Frimley or Chertsey, is a major concern and with ambulance response times in Haslemere being poor, will put lives at risk.”

Other threats and cuts to essential services in the town have also angered Mr Knowles along with a lack of support to protect local services in Haslemere.

Mr Knowles complained: “Having lived in Haslemere all my life I have seen a gradual but worrying deterioration in the town.

“There were six banks in the town, which is to become two, seven post offices become nil and a fully operational hospital now does minor injuries and patients have to get to Frimley or Tooting.

“Times change of course, but closure of services such as toilets and community green waste add to the problem, but many of these issues are not within the control of local councillors.

“Out of 57 members at Waverley Borough Council only six represent Haslemere, and only one of these supported the closure of the toilets, ending the green waste and increased car park charges.”

That situation, Mr Knowles claimed, left the minority of Haslemere’s councillors unable to campaign on important local issues because they did not have the support in council votes to protect services.

lIt was also confirmed as The Herald went to press on Wednesday that HSBC Bank’s branch, in Haslemere High Street, is to close after rumours had circulated in the town of its forthcoming closure. Lloyds Bank also announced this week its Grayshott branch will also be shutting later in the year.