Post offices’ demise has shattered the community

6:00pm Friday 9th May 2008

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Compassion and community have been traded for the need to save cash, a campaigner has claimed following news that three borough post offices will shut in June.

Despite strong campaigns to save them, mail counters at Park Avenue, Old Isleworth and Chiswick High Road will be axed.

Loyal customers rallied round Park Avenue owner Behesh Pandya to try to save his family-run post office/newsagent. But hopes were dashed on Wednesday when the news broke.

Mr Pandya said: "A lot of people, even myself, were hoping it would stay open. We had support from councillors and MPs in both boroughs.

"Before we heard about the proposals in November we had planned to celebrate our silver jubilee on April 28 in a big way."

He said the three post offices listed as alternatives were difficult for the elderly to get to.

Pat Collins, 64, who gathered 600 signatures opposing the closure, said: "I'm shattered by this news.

"Our case was very strong - so much went into it and the alternative post offices did not add up.

"A lot of people, many who are in their 90s, will be left stranded without easy access to vital services. Compassion and community seems to have been replaced by the Post Office's need to save cash."

A fifth of the capital's 850 branches will close as part of the move outlined by the Government to make post offices more sustainable in light of changing customer habits.

A six-week public consultation over the 169 closures ended on April 2.

Seven sub-post offices originally put forward for closure were withdrawn following a strong backlash from elderly customers and businesses.