12:34pm Tuesday 24th June 2008
By Carl Brown
TWO Walthamstow post offices will be axed after all, it has been announced.
Post Office Ltd revealed last month that it would be rethinking its decision to close the branches in Forest Road, Chingford Road and Orford Road, bringing hope to those opposed to the closures.
But the company today has stated it will be closing the Chingford Road and Orford Road branches. The Forest Road post office will remain.
Post Office Ltd said that taking into account the other closures "it would not be able to offer customers reasonable access to its services" if it closed Forest Road as well.
Joanne Rogers, 58, of Flamer Road, has campaigned to save the Forest Road branch with her 88-year-old mother Gladys Gloyn.
She said: "I'm delighted that Forest Road has been saved because they listened to our concerns.
"But it is tinged with sadness because we would have liked all of the branches to stay open."
Post Office Ltd acknowledged the concerns about the Orford Road branch closure, including the impact on elderly residents and the potential for longer queues at branches, but said there are two branches within three quarters of mile of each other.
It also said there would be six branches within a mile radius of the Chingford Road branch.
Michael Smith has been instrumental in campaigning to save the Orford Road branch.
He said: "You cannot expect elderly people to walk three-quarters of a mile to other post offices.
"They have not thought this through at all, Orford Road is a very successful, economical post office."
The decision to axe the two Walthamstow branches follows last month's announcement that three other Waltham Forest branches, in Leyton High Road, Hall Lane, Chingford, and Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, would all be axed.
Post Office Ltd was ordered by the Government to draw up a list of about 2,500 branches nationwide to be closed, due to rising losses and a drop in demand.
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