WHEN Community Action coordinator Clive Gunn, Councillor Annette Crowe and Ledbury Rotarian Jan Long heard that the Post Office in Ledbury was due for closure from April 11 to 23 for refurbishment, they immediately formed an alliance to offer an alternative service.

Every day to April 23 inclusive transport will be provided, using a volunteer driver in one of the Community Action Ledbury minibuses on stand-by.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, under the auspices of Ledbury Town Council, it will take Ledbury residents to Colwall Post Office and bring them back. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, under the aegis of Ledbury Rotary Club, the bus will go to The Shop at Bromsberrow that has an outreach post office service during the mornings from 10am until noon on those days every week.

Clive Gunn said, "Passengers should be residents of Ledbury who have no other way of getting to a Post Office during the closure who have personal matters to attend do. We will not be able to cope with persons carrying large numbers of parcels to do with their commercial activities. Incidentally I believe that pre franked or stamped parcels can be dropped off at the Post Office in Station Yard".

Rotarian Jan Long remarked: "Ledbury Rotary Club is delighted to be able to serve its local community and help with the organisation and funding of transport during the closure period. There are many people who would simply not have the facilities to make their way to Colwall or Malvern or Bromsberrow Heath (which is only four miles away) and we are delighted to work in partnership with the CAL to ensure that no-one is inconvenienced."

Councillor Annette Crowe said "We are very disappointed that there has been no provision made by the Post Office to provide funding for a bus service, however after consultation with Jan Long from Ledbury Rotary and Clive Gunn from Community Action Ledbury, we have done our best to help the people of our Town and that no-one need be disadvantaged."

People should report to the old CAL office in the road leading to Bye Street Car Park, just round the corner from Ledbury Post Office next door to the public conveniences. The CAL office will be open to provide shelter from inclement weather and there will be information about bus timetables of the available seats. The minibus will run whenever there are at least 12 passengers and will shuttle back and forth starting at 9.30am and aiming to finish at 12.30pm. A nominal fare of £1 per person is asked for a return trip (Only 50p each way). In the event of greater need, two minibuses will operate.