7:02pm Wednesday 27th February 2008
"To pee or not to pee?" Don't ask the question. The concept of public convenience is facing extinction. Not only toilets, but 2,500 post offices throughout the country are facing closure.
Expedience, not convenience, is the war cry of our beloved democracy - or should I say hypocrisy?
Governments seem to regard our communities as cattle to milk and kill for profit - paying "think-tanks" millions to dream up ways to save money.
They have sold off our playing fields, swimming pools, nursing homes, railways, utilities, paid a fortune to rebrand The Royal Mail Consignia - and back again.
In the wake of this waste - over which we taxpayers had no control - many sub post offices at the heart of our communities, some survivors of previous culls, are targeted for closure.
When a similar situation arose in Germany, including threats to remove post boxes, there was such a public outcry that many of the proposals were withdrawn.
If we value our community services, we must learn to fight to retain them. The British are notoriously non-demonstrative, we watch passively as so much we treasure, disappears.
It is no good saying "They should do something." We are they.
The community and Haringey Council are united in opposing the closure of our sub post office, in Alexandra Park Rd, Muswell Hill. In existence since 1909, it is profitably and efficiently run, serving thousands, many of whom would find it inconvenient, costly and time-consuming to travel further afield to access another post office.
If you feel passionately about this, don't just walk meekly like cattle to the slaughter - make your moos heard.
Susan Bennett
St Regis Close, Muswell Hill
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