ONE of the three post offices faced with closure by the government could be given a stay of execution.

Council bosses will be meeting officials from the Post Office next week to discuss the possibility of keeping the Adelphi Post Office, on Oldfield Road, Salford, open.

The Post Office has committed to further discussion with council representatives about the possibility of the council offering support for the Adelphi branch.

The Post Office has, however, indicated that it is not open to negotiation on keeping open the branches in Lewis Street in Patricroft and in Langworthy Road.

Postmaster at the Adelphi branch, Satish Vaish, welcomed the meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, August 26.

Mr Vaish said: "I feel wonderful about this new meeting. The council called me to tell me about it and I was over the moon.

"There have been no promises made yet, which is completely understandable, but I’m just feeling so good that I might have a chance. Any chance at all is worth it."

Mr Vaish organised a 700-name petition to company bosses in June in a last-ditch attempt to save his branch from closure.

He said: "Last week, when we got the news, we were devastated at the thought that we might close. Fingers crossed, this meeting may save us."

Salford City Council has also secured a commitment from the Post Office to work together to help avoid any future closures by investigating how post offices can be made more viable through the services they offer customers.

More than 200 Salford people answered councillors’ calls to make representations against the closures to help in compiling the formal objection to the Post Office.

Deputy leader of the council, Councillor David Lancaster, said: "There will be no let up in us voicing our concerns about the devastating economic and social impact these post office closures will have on the communities they serve.

"We will work with the Post Office to explore the opportunities for maintaining a service at Adelphi, but we are very disappointed that similar options have not been given to the branches on Lewis Street and Langworthy Road. We will be taking this up with the government minister.

"Our ongoing campaign will ensure that there is lasting commitment and discussion with the Post Office to prevent a similar fate befalling other branches in future."

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