Post office closure is nonsensical (From Haringey Independent)

Post office closure is nonsensical

12:50pm Friday 28th March 2008

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The 'Ides of March' may have passed but the Prime Minister should still beware.

Voters and MPs throughout the country are united in opposing his decision to close a further 2,500 post offices. I have been engaged in campaigning to preserve our post office in Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill. It has served our community since 1909, and runs at a profit. It is claimed millions are lost weekly running non-profitable branches... so why close a profitable one? It makes no sense.

Much of the 'information' surrounding this proposal makes little sense. The Branch Access Report presented by the Post Office to offer alternatives to residents losing their own branch, was flawed, showing llack of concrete knowledge of actual local conditions and transport links.

The percentage of proposed closures in Haringey is higher than in other areas, yet the population is greater.

The calculations of savings to be made by closing 2,500 post offices is unrealistic, since it does not take into account the actual cost of losses to the local community in terms of rents, rates, and business which will ensue as residents cease to visit parades sustained by the draw of the post office.

Our local branch is one of over 20 small businesses generating a volume of mail and parcels far greater than the Crown Office. Much of this is from home workers , the local vet, ebay sellers...a potentially growing market, that will be lost to other servers if the branch goes. The journey, queues and cost of travelling to the alternatives , not to mention increased emissions, is considered unacceptable. ....and not only by the elderly and infirm for whom queuing for well over 30 minutes is not tenable, but young families with children and pushchairs , and local traders, and busy working people. One resident logged her journey to and from the main post office ...it took one hour, 57 minutes.

The so-called six-week 'consultation' in my experience, has been no more than an opportunity for the public to vent their anger and disbelief.

If consulted, instead of having our intelligence insulted, many of us would have suggested ways to increase post office business, despite the enforced loss of so much of its former business. ie. TV Licences, pensions, etc.

Our local post office, according to the Post Office's own figures serves 45,840 residents The Crown Post Office in Muswell Hill 44,808 residents. The nearest alternative sub post office serves 41,058 residents Where is the logic to close the branch serving the highest number of people, dealing with the highest volume of mail, and running at a profit?

Susan Bennett, St Regis Close, N10

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