Post Office Closures - Ladywell safe for now, but 171 others in London threatened

Today sees the start of Royal Mail's consultation on the 'restructuring' of its service in London, which includes proposals to close 171 post offices within the capital. Mr & Mrs Patel of Ladywell Post Office on Algernon Road were concerned that their post office was one of those earmarked for closure and were pleased to find out in the last few days that it isn't currently threatened. However, three other post offices within the borough in Hither Green, Lee and New Cross are. For the complete list of post offices facing closure, see this London Area Plan Proposal on the Royal Mail's website.

I struggle to see how the closure of so many post offices both within London and nationally fits into any kind of government programme on sustainable communities. Local post offices are an essential part of the community and do much more than sell stamps. The closure of so many branches will seriously hurt elderly and vulnerable people, for whom post offices play an important social as well as practical function. Those without a car will be particularly affected, while those with cars will be more likely to drive, rather than walk to their nearest post office increasing pollution and congestion. Yet again, as with the ongoing hospital consultation, no serious consideration seems to have been given to the impact this will have on carbon emissions. And when people do get to the post office they will face even longer queues. Sadly, it is yet another nail in the coffin for many local shopping parades.

The closures are being driven by a combination of factors, but in particular changes to the way Government pays benefits (a lot more is done through banks rather than post offices now, meaning post offices have lost a vital source of income) and the EU drive to liberalise and privatise postal services, despite a Green campaign at the European parliament against the proposals. Both of these have undermined the financial viability of many post offices.

The consultation runs until 2nd April. Views and comments on the proposals should be sent to:
Anita Turner

Network Development Manager
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk
Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44

Please note that your comments will not be kept confidential unless you expressly ask them to do so by clearly marking them ‘In Confidence’.

Privatisation of Lewisham and Forest Hill Crown Post Offices

In May we passed two motions at full council expressing concern at plans to merge Lewisham High Street and Forest Hill post offices with branches of WHSmith and asking the Mayor to '"convene a meeting with key stakeholders" to discuss these proposals. Councillors have today received the following response from the CWU.

From: Communication Workers Union - 28 June 2007

Privatisation of Lewisham and Forest Hill Crown Post Offices

Further to your letter dated 4 June 2007 regarding the above.
Please convey my thanks to the councillors of Lewisham for their support in our campaign to defend Post Office services. The council add their name to hundreds of others, including MPs and the Mayor of London who are supporting our campaign and the provision of local services.

The Communication Workers Union is very keen to meet with the Mayor of Lewisham, along with other stakeholders, to discuss the proposal privatisation OF Forest Hill and Lewisham Crown Offices to WH Smith.

To this end, I have copied this letter to Mr John Denton, Regional Secretary, London, and Graham Henson, Territory Counters Representative, Eastern Region, who will be in touch with the Mayor’s office in due course to make the appropriate arrangements.

As you may be aware, we are currently in dispute with POL due to plans to cut our members’ pay and privatise 85 Crown Post Offices with the loss of up to 1500 jobs nationally. As part of this dispute, we have launched a boycott of WH Smith and are calling on all supporters of Post Office services to support us in our endeavours. I have enclosed a copy of the leaflet we have been distributing for the aforementioned purpose.

If you would like further information about our boycott campaign, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Signed

Ian Ward
Acting Assistant Secretary