Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden has visited Mayfield to present local postmistress Jo Eates with the Wealden Hero Award.
Jo has been a lifeline for many people in Mayfield who were shielding or self-isolating. She has been running errands and providing vital social contact to vulnerable residents, all while working full time, running the Post Office located at Rusden’s Homes on the High Street. The Post Office is a vital community asset providing a convenient, quick service in a modern retail environment and Jo kept it open throughout the pandemic to ensure Mayfield residents could access financial services as well as shopping collections and returns.
Nusrat has worked with several communities across Wealden to keep Post Offices in Groombridge and Hailsham open. After the closure of the previous Mayfield branch, she successfully campaigned alongside the Mayfield Business Forum for this important fixture to return to Mayfield high street and she attended the opening of the current branch in 2019.
“Post Offices provide vital services to Wealden residents and they are especially key in rural constituencies like ours. I’m aware of the challenges that our local Post Office branches have faced throughout the pandemic and I’m so grateful that they have shown great resilience and dedication. After the closure of the previous branch, I am pleased to have successfully campaigned for Mayfield to have a Post Office once again, under such fantastic leadership. Jo has gone above and beyond to provide essential services for local residents and I’m delighted to present her with the Wealden Hero Award.”
