THREE post offices in the city have lost their two-month battle against the Government’s plans to close them down.

Patricroft Post Office, in Lewis Street, Eccles; Langworthy Road Post Office in Langworthy and Adelphi Post Office, in Oldfield Road, will now definitely close their doors for good after an announcement by the government on Tuesday, August 12.

Although there is currently no date for the closures to come into effect, it is thought it will be after September 23.

Satish Vaish, postmaster of the Adelphi Post Office, said it was a ‘sad day’ for the customers who use the shop.

He said: "We have a lot of elderly customers who will not be able to go anywhere else. It is a sad day for all of us, and I would like to thank everyone involved in the fight to keep the post office open."

Imran Patel, postmaster of the Patricroft branch in Lewis Street, claimed he had not been given an official reason why his branch was to close.

He said: "There has been no date set for the closure, all I know is that it will be after September 23, to make sure everyone knows about the closure.

"The worst about it is that we just have not been given a reason for the decision. It’s very upsetting."

Councillor John Warmisham, a ward councillor in Langworthy, fought to keep the Langworthy Road branch open.

He said: "We are very disappointed at the outcome of the consultation. As a Langworthy ward councillor who had meetings with the senior executives of the Post Office to explain the need for the post office in that area, I feel I and the community of Langworthy have not been listened to or taken seriously by the Post Office."

On Monday, August 11, there was a meeting at the Salford Women’s Centre, attended by local ward councillors and members of Unison, to try to find a way out of the situation.

Shiraz Choudry, postmaster at the Langworthy Road branch, said elderly residents will be penalised by the decision.

He said: "There is a retirement home just behind us and obviously a lot of residents come to us. It’s obviously going to cost me my job too. It’s an awful situation to be in."

Richard Lynds, Post Office Ltd’s network development manager north west, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

"We believe that the plan offers our customers in this area the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future."

Councillor David Lancaster, deputy leader of Salford City Council, said: "We are extremely disappointed with the decision. We do not feel that it takes into account the views and concerns that we and residents of Salford have put forward in relation to the proposed closures. We have a meeting with the Post Office on Thursday and following that we will make a decision about how we wish to proceed."