THE number of people who have signed a petition to reinstate post office facilities in Wimborne following a blaze now stands at 2,654, equal to almost one signature per household in the town centre.

Today councillor Robin Cook and prospective parliamentary candidate Nick King will present the petition to East Dorset District Council leader Spencer Flower.

And on Friday, MP Robert Walter has arranged for the group to meet Post Office representatives to hand the petition to them.

Robin Cook said: “Bob Walter has been enormously helpful in pushing for this urgent meeting.

“He, Robin and I, along with members of the town council, will be pressing the Post Office to restore post office facilities without further delay. There is no excuse for the delay to which the people and business owners of Wimborne are being subjected.”

A fire in early July damaged a number of buildings including Martin’s newsagent, which housed the post office.

The safety cordon around the building includes the postal box on the pavement of High Street.

East Dorset District Council officials have said they cannot move the cordon because of health and safety concerns but will do everything possible to help get a box and a service back into the town.

The town council recently heard the Post Office plans to bring a temporary portable building in to sit in a car park behind the Minster church, but it could take 12 weeks.

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