Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, has visited Ridgewood Post Office to support its owners Bobby and Rohani in appealing to UK Power Networks (UKPN) over imposed road closures.
Bobby and Rohani have taken over Ridgewood Post office in October, after the previous owners of 34 years decided to retire. The shop provides fresh groceries as well as Post Office and banking services and it has been a lifeline to Ridgewood residents throughout the pandemic. However, its trade has been severely impacted by ongoing roadworks and road closures outside the store as footfall of passers-by is a huge proportion of the shop’s business. This led to unnecessary food waste and plummeting sales.
Without prior notice to the business, UKPN have originally planned to close the road completely for a 5-week period, but have since reversed their decision, to consider the concerns raised by the community. Nusrat is committed to making representations to the company, should they fail to keep Bobby and Rohani consulted and not provide any compensation.
Nusrat Ghani said: “I was pleased to meet Bobby and Rohani when they took over the Ridgewood Post Office and I have been supportive of the store ever since. Ridgewood Post Office is key to the community and provides vital services to Ridgewood and Uckfield residents. I’m appalled at UKPN’s lack of consultation and compensation for local businesses prior to major roadworks such as these. I’m pleased that UKPN have since reversed their decision and are keeping the situation under review, without an imminent six-week closure. I’m aware of the challenges that our local Post Office branches have faced throughout the pandemic and I’m pleased that usual services have begun to be restored throughout the constituency.”
