Eight post offices to close (From News Shopper)

Eight post offices to close

4:44pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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EIGHT post offices in Lewisham and Greenwich will close, it has been announced.

Post Office Ltd said today (May 7)that 155 branches out of the 169 earmarked for closure in London will be axed.

These include post offices at Blackheath Hill, Bostal Hill, Eltham High Street, Plumstead Common Road and Woolwich Road, Greenwich.

A further three Lewisham branches at Hither Green Lane, Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, and New Cross Road will also shut.

The news follows a six-week public consultation which received around 27,600 responses from the capital's residents.

But manager of the Eltham High Street branch Sue Parmar said she had submitted a 1,300 signature petition against the closure and had never received a response.

She said: "I really feel for the elderly who can't make it to another post office.

"I also feel for local businesses because it's going to affect their customer flow."

Lewisham Council agreed at a full meeting on April 23 to look at the possibility of providing post office services from the three branches due to close.

The socialist councillor who put forward the motion Cllr Chris Flood said: "We think the post offices are a vital service and we don't just want to stand by and watch them close.

"I do hope it wasn't just talk and it's looked at seriously."

Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock said: "This battle is not over yet.

"I will look at what further options are open, including legal action, and an investigation of other ways in which those post offices can be kept open."

Post Office Ltd network development manager for London Anita Turner said of the closures: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

"We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation."

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