Council delivers protest over Post Office closures

6.02.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 5th Apr 2008

• AN urgent plea to spare three local Post Offices was issued by Richmond Council this week.

Plans have been put forward for the closure of the branches at 30 Broad Street, Teddington; 336 Richmond Road, Twickenham; and 38a Staines Road, Twickenham. In an official response this week, the Council spelled out its concern and dismay at the plans, emphasising that all three branches play a vital role in their communities and should be reprieved. A meeting of the full Council in March agreed a motion calling for a halt to any further Post Office closures in the borough.

In the official Council response this week, Council Leader, Cllr Serge Lourie, underlined the strength of local feeling on the issue, saying: "Your proposals have caused a considerable amount of concern. The Council is opposed to the loss of these post offices as, whilst the Post Office is a business, it also provides a vital community service, and local branches support the economy of the shopping centres that they serve and help to maintain sustainable local communities. These branches are situated in small shopping parades and provide a driver for the retail economy in these areas by encouraging linked-trips to other shops in the vicinity. In addition, the close proximity of these Post Offices to where their customers live, allows people to walk or cycle, and thereby reduces the number of car journeys that need to be made, and enables the less mobile to easily access the essential services that they provide. The nearest alternative branches to those proposed for closure are between half a mile and one mile away, a considerable distance to walk . . In view of the impact of these proposed closures on local residents, I would appreciate the opportunity of meeting a representative of the Post Office so that we can discuss our concerns. We would also like to discuss whether there is a possibility of some work, such as the issuing of parking permits, to be undertaken by local branches."