WITH a public meeting looming tonight (Friday) over post offices targeted for closure at Tilford and Station Hill, post office facilities at two other locations in the area also face an uncertain future. Confusion surrounds both Folly Hill and Heath End Post Offices, for although the official area plan unveiled last week states they are not being considered for closure, neither has been open for some time. The sub-postmaster at Folly Hill closed down the office there last August, whereas Heath End Post Office was closed early in December - for an audit, according to Post Office Ltd. The matter has been taken up by South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt, who said many constituents had contacted him to highlight the situation. In a letter to Post Office Ltd Mr Hunt said: "I appreciate that Post Office Ltd's stated decision is to keep the two post offices open, but in reality neither is currently open for business. "I have had several constituents write to me about this matter. We all need to know for sure that Folly Hill and Heath End areas are not going to lose their post offices, albeit not under the name of the official consultation." He added: "Not having a post office in Heath End has caused much stress for local people, especially in the lead up to Christmas and because of the extra burden placed on other nearby post offices. It's time for Post Office Ltd to provide us with a straight answer." A spokesman for Post Office Ltd told The Herald: "They are listed as still to be kept open because we don't want them to close. We realise they are needed by the community." In Folly Hill, following the resignation of the former postmaster, the old post office premises is not available. "We are trying to find someone else to run it and are urging for someone to come forward. Clearly we also have to find somewhere for them to do it from," said the spokesman, adding that all sorts of alternatives, such as operating from a pub, could be considered. As far as Heath End is concerned, she said the post office remains closed following the audit, with "issues" still to be resolved. "The long-term intention would be that it re-opens again in the same premises," she added.
