WALTHAM FOREST: Three post offices axed

12:49pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

Comments (10)   Have your say »

THREE Walham Forest post offices will close but a decision on closing another three has been delayed, it has been announced.

Post Office Ltd has decided to close the branches in Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, Leyton High Road and Hall Lane, Chingford, following a six-week public consultation.

Three branches in Walthamstow, in Chingford Road, Forest Road and Orford Road are now under "further review" with a decision to be made at a later date.

This follows concerns by the watchdog Post Watch that Walthamstow Central post office may struggle to cope with the extra demand if the closures went ahead.

Hale End & Highams Park ward Cllr John Beanse, who campaigned to save the Hall Lane branch, said the three closures showed "a lack of consideration for the needs of local people."

Cllr Beanse said: "We have been through this before when the Sewardstone Road branch closed.

"The alternatives are not convenient, people will have to travel to Chingford Mount and use the post office, which is in a Costcutter's store."

The closures were part of a Government plan to axe 2,500 branches nationwide because of rising losses. It instructed Post Office Ltd to identify branches to close pending the consultation.

Cllr Beanse said: ""The irony is that the most used outlet of most High Streets is the post office.

"When the Labour party was in opposition it used to slam the Conservatives for closing post offices but now it is doing the same thing."

Post Office Ltd says it received about 27,6000 responses to the consultation.

Post Office Ltd London network development manager Anita Turner said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

"We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation."

The axed branches will close next month.

For more information visit www.news.royalmailgroup.com