WALTHAM FOREST: Fury at plans to close six post offices (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Fury at plans to close six post offices

5:25pm Tuesday 19th February 2008 in

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SIX post office branches will be closed in Waltham Forest under plans announced this week, to the fury of customers and staff.

The Post Office has opened a six-week public consultation on plans to close 169 branches in London.

Under the plans the branches in Hall Lane, Chingford, Grove Green Road, Leytonstone and Leyton High Road will close.

Three branches in Walthamstow, in Forest Road, Orford Road and Chingford Road, also face the axe.

The plan is part of a wider Government move to shut 2,500 post offices across the UK, because of rising losses fuelled by a drop in demand.

The Post Office is insisting that seven million London residents will either see no change to their nearest branch or will remain within one mile of an alternative post office.

But post office workers and customers were shocked on Tuesday when they heard the news.

Forest Road branch postmaster Karala Pillai said that her branch is very busy and serves about 2000 visitors a week.

She said: "The people who come in here are very worred about the situation because we have a lot of elderly people and disabled people who would find it difficult to get to other branches, such as the ones in Higham Hill or Wood Street.

"They have asked me to organise a petition to send to the consultation because many of the customers are not able to send in their views online."

A worker at the Orford Road branch, who did not wish to be named, said that staff there were confused as to why that branch is facing the axe as it too is busy.

Post Office network development manager Anita Turner said: "Taking the decision to close any post office branch is always very difficult and we know it will cause concern to many of our customers.

"We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the proposed changes and able to give views on them."

People have until April 2 to have their say on the proposals.

For more information visit www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or write to Post Office Ltd, C/O National Consultation Team, Freepost Consultation Team.