A GOVERNMENT Minister is being urged to reopen a York post office which closed down “ temporarily” more than a year ago.

York Central MP Hugh Bayley has written to Norman Lamb MP, the Lib Dem Minister responsible for post offices, to call for Tang Hall Lane Post office to reopen its doors.

He said the post offfice closed in February last year, following the resignation of the sub-postmaster, and he was assured by Post Office Ltd that the closure was a temporary one. However, more than one year later, local residents are still having to manage without it.

In his letter, the Labour MP reminded the Minister of an election pledge made by the Liberal Democrats in 2010 that they would “keep post offices open” which he said was not happening.

Mr Bayley said: “The temporary closure of Tang Hall Lane Post Office is one among many across the country.

“The Minister was asked in Westminster last month how many post offices were temporarily closed. He was unable to answer and has passed the question Post Office Ltd.

“The Government should come clean about this. Are they supporting local post offices or closing them through stealth?”

The Press reported last year how June Raper had run the post office with her husband, Mel. Mr Raper said his wife was retiring.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said then: “We apologise for the inconvenience this temporary closure will undoubtedly cause, but I can assure our customers that we will be doing all we can to restore post office services to the community as soon as possible.”

Customers were advised the nearest alternative branches were Melrosegate Post Office, Heslington Post Office in Main Street and Heworth Post Office in East Parade.

Post Office Ltd spokesperson Heulyn Gwyn Davies said yesterday: “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers by the continued absence of a Post Office service in Tang Hall.

“We are advertising this vacancy on our website and we are committed to re-establishing a service as soon as possible.

“We would encourage any interested local parties to contact Post Office Ltd by phoning 0845 6016260."