People in Margate are invited to a public meeting to save their local Crown Post Office from closure.

It will take place at Margate Baptist Church in Cecil Square at on Tuesday, November 26, at 7pm.

Deputy Mayor of Margate, Cllr Iris Johnston, will chair the event. Guest speakers will include Cllr Mick Tomlinson (Conservative), county councillor Mo Elenor (UKIP) and Cllr Will Scobie (Labour).

Representatives from the Communication Workers Union (CWU) will be there. Representatives from the Post Office have been invited.

The proposed closure is part of the Post Office’s transformation plans.

Although Royal Mail has been privatised, the Post Office is still in public ownership. The Government has stated the Post Office must break even to get permission to become a mutual

There is strong local opposition to closing down Margate’s popular and well used Crown Post Office on Cecil Square, and replacing it with alternative provision of a Post Office counter inside a shop.

Cllr Johnston is among the opponents. She said: “I have been concerned from as far back as last March that our own Crown Post Office is not only likely to be moved from Cecil Square but downgraded to nothing more than a franchise in the back of an existing store.

“There is a great affection for the office in its present position but if it has to move it must be kept in a prominent position Even with the present large facility the queues are often down Hawley Street. I cannot see how the service could be relocated into a shared shop with less staff.”

Cllr Scobie said: “The loss of Crown Post Office special services along with jobs and privacy for customers is a major concern and I hope everyone is signing the petitions and sending on the postcards we are delivering throughout Margate central and other nearby wards.”

Residents are urged to send their views to Thanet North MP Sir Roger Gale by email: galerj@parliament.uk