POST Office bosses will be urged to reconsider their decision to rule out providing a branch in Summertown.

Campaigners believe Sainsbury’s planned fourth supermarket in the area shows demand is there.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood and Liberal Democrat city councillor Jean Fooks will meet the Post Office’s stakeholder manager Simon Burman at Westminster on January 24 to press their case.

In October, Post Office managers said Summertown would not get its post office back, despite a three-year campaign, because of “insufficient demand”.

But Mrs Fooks said: “In September, the Post Office claimed its figures showed it would not be economically viable.

“But we will urge Simon Burman to reconsider. I don’t believe the Post Office has taken into account recent changes, including Sainsbury’s and new housing.

“It’s a thriving retail area and postmasters have told me they would be very keen to run a branch in Summertown.”

There was a branch in Summertown until 2008, within Martins newsagent before it was sold up to Costa Coffee.

And campaigners had hoped a new branch could open in Summertown Library, as part of redevelopment plans.

More than 500 people signed a petition calling for a new post office in South Parade library last year.

Miss Blackwood said: “Every day, residents see the growth of footfall and traffic in Summertown and they have good reason to believe a new Post Office would be a success and serve a vital social role in the heart of the local community.”

A meeting will also be held at North Oxford Community Centre in Diamond Place on Thursday, February 16 at 7.30pm so that residents, business leaders and traders can discuss the mix of businesses provided in Banbury Road.

Sainsbury’s plans to open its new store on the corner of Banbury Road and South Parade in the spring and a planning application has been submitted to the city council to extend a number of shop fronts, including Mail Boxes Etc.