A plan of action (From Gazette Series)

A plan of action

CAMPAIGN group Post Office Countermeasures is calling for people across Stroud district to boycott all Tesco and One Stop stores until further notice.

Tesco bought up One Stop Shops across the country with the plan of converting them into Tesco Express shops.

In some locations where there are post offices, the counters are being closed. In Wotton-under-Edge Tesco and the Post Office are trying to relocate the branch.

Post Office Countermeasures claims Tesco has refused to give the group an undertaking to keep the post offices stores open until satisfactory alternatives have established. Another post office under threat is Paganhill in Stroud. The boycott was announced at a demonstration outside the Tesco superstore in Stroud on Saturday.

Co-ordinator Steve Penny said: "Don't leave our old folk out in the cold this Christmas. Help them save their post offices by boycotting Tesco and One Stop. Please join us. Every little helps."

But contrary to Post Office Countermeasures' claims, Tesco last week announced that a second party was being considered as a potential candidate to take over the post office in Wotton. A planned conversion of the Long Street store has also been postponed until a suitable location has been found.

Tesco spokesman Steve Gracey explained: "We have always been clear on the fact that we want to give Paganhill and Wotton-Under-Edge an improved convenience store and retain the Post Office service in these areas.

"I am pleased to be able to give an update to these areas and tell residents that we are confident that we will be able to relocate the Post Office counters to alternative viable locations within the community.

"We are pleased that in Wotton-under-Edge a second person has come forward who is keen to run the counter at another premises.

"We have also agreed to further delay the conversion of these stores, if necessary, until the application process has been completed. This should mean a continued post office service in these areas."