A COUNCILLOR has called for post offices to be created at Basildon and Laindon libraries if the two branches cannot be saved.

Iris Pummell, the current Tory county councillor for Wickford and Noak Bridge, has hit out at plans to close or franchise the Post Office branches in Basildon’s East Square and the Laindon Shopping Centre.

She said the loss of the branches would be catastrophic for both towns and would leave pensioners forced to travel miles to access any of their services.

Mrs Pummell said she has already spoken to David Finch, Essex County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, as to whether post offices in both towns could be moved into the libraries if no buyer for each of them is found.

She said the library at the Basildon Centre in St Martin’s Square and at New Century Road in Laindon both had the room to accommodate post office counters if the worst happens.

The Echo revealed last week how the Post Office is proposing to close or franchise 70 branches nationwide.

On Saturday workers from the Basildon Post Office in East Square staged a one-day walk out and gathered signatures on a petition from customers opposed to the plans.

Garrie Bond, South Essex representitative from the Communicaiton Workers Union, said he would rather both post offices stay than be moved into libraries in either town.