THE FIGHT against “devastating” post office closures in Redbridge and Waltham Forest went to Parliament this week.
The decision to close post offices in South Woodford, Leyton, and Walthamstow has been met with outrage in the community.
Post Office wants to close its flagship Crown Offices in George Lane, Lea Bridge Road, and High Street and relocate services within another business or retailer.
But campaigners, union members, and politicians claim the move will result in services getting worse, employees losing their jobs, and some communities being left without a post office altogether.
Campaigners in South Woodford collecting signatures for anti-George Lane post office closure petition
MP for Chingford and Woodford Green Iain Duncan Smith spoke passionately against what Post Office is planning in a Commons debate on Tuesday (April 25).
He said: “I am here because it has been announced that the Crown post office in George Lane in my constituency is to be closed.
“Ironically, it is situated very close to a sorting office [Marlborough Road], which I understand the other side of the fence now wants to shut.
“We will therefore have a serious blight in the area.”
He went on: “It is worth reminding the Post Office and the Government that post offices are part of the chain of integral elements in a high street which, bit by bit by bit, are being removed.
"The post office is an integral element because it brings people into the community, particularly elderly people who do their shopping there.
“The high street will therefore suffer as a result of the closures.”
Communication Workers Union (CWU) campaigners in Walthamstow
Campaigners across the two boroughs have argued there may not be shops big enough to be able to accommodate a post office, which could mean services disappear altogether.
They have also collected thousands of signatures for a petition condemning the move.
Mr Duncan Smith urged the Post Office to reconsider old proposals to integrate benefit, pension, and credit services into its branches to make them more useful.
He said: “All along, there has been negativity from the Post Office regarding any ideas about using its facilities in ways that could genuinely increase its revenue and make it more flexible.
“They must think again, and I call on them be more reasonable.”
Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy said she “completely agreed”.
She said: “For those of us facing post office closures such as in Walthamstow and in Lea Bridge Road, the question is the alternative future.
“We know that under-banking is still a major problem in this country. Some 2 million people have no access to a bank account, including 8% of all 18 to 19-year-olds and we know there is rising debt in our communities.
“In my local area, the Government has not even asked the credit union whether it could work with Post Office, and they are talking about closing two local branches.
“They say the consultation is over and it is too late to start that conversation.
“We must not lose the opportunity to build the financial inclusion that all of our communities need by bringing those two communities together.”
Post Office has repeatedly assured people in South Woodford, Leyton, and Walthamstow “they will not be left without a post office” and a public consultation will take place in due course.
They claim the franchise move will be more efficient and ensure branches stay open long into the future.
They have been contacted for further comment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here