THE National Federation of Sub Postmasters (NFSP) have said that Post Offices will be vital alternatives for Ellesmere Port residents with the town's Barclays branch set to close next month.

The nearest Post Offices to the bank on Whitby Road would be on Wellington Road (CH65 0BZ), Wolverham Road (CH65 5DA) and Hope Farm Precinct (CH66 2RG).

The NFSP say that each of these branches offers banking services, including deposits, free cash withdrawals and balance checks, as well as standard services such as face-to-face access to government services, bill payment, foreign currency, travel insurance and postal services.

A spokesperson for the NFSP said: "Post offices are proving vital to retaining individual and business access to cash as the banks continue to desert the high street in order to cut costs and increase their profits.

"Every post office plays a vital role within the heart of the local community. Post offices provide a reliable and essential service which has continued at a high standard across the whole of the UK throughout the pandemic."

Ellesmere Port MP Justin Madders has previously called for a 'banking hub' to be set up in the town in order to ensure that vulnerable citizens are able to access face-to-face banking facilities following the closure of HSBC last year and the imminent closure of Barclays.

Speaking in Parliament at the end of January in a debate on 'Employment and the High Street', he said: "I am afraid this drive to online services is being used by banks that can frankly afford to keep those branches open. It is part of a wider trend."