Shepherd's Bush Rd, Askew Rd and Goldhawk Rd to shut
The Post Office have announced a list of local branches which are likely to be closed.
Six offices in Shepherd's Bush, Fulham and Hammersmith have been earmarked for closure.
Two neighbouring post offices in Askew Road and an office in Goldhawk Road, Shepherd's Bush as well as the post office in Shepherd's Bush Road, Hammersmith are facing the chop.
These latest closures would bring the total number in recent years to eighteen, following other closures in Farm Lane, Hammersmith Broadway, North End Road, Lillie Road, Blythe Road, Brackenbury Road, Wood Lane, 318 Uxbridge Road, Bloemfontein Road, St Ann’s Road, 349 Fulham Palace Road and Richmond Way.
Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush MP Andy Slaughter said: " This is bad news for every community in London, but this area, and in particular Shepherds Bush has been particularly hard hit. Both offices in Askew Road, and those in Goldhawk and Shepherds Bush Road are all condemned.
"If this goes ahead you could walk from the Uxbridge Road in Acton to Hammersmith Broadway without passing a post office. Today there are four on the route."
Hammersmith MP Greg Hands said, “Over the last 5 years, the Crown Post Offices for W6, W14 and now SW6 have all closed. It is a disgrace, and illustrates the Labour Government’s attitude to Hammersmith & Fulham. Fewer Post Offices, offering fewer services, will affect the most vulnerable local residents.”
Cllr Paul Bristow, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services at Hammersmith and Fulham Council said, "Enough is enough. Asking residents whether they would like to lose six out of 14 Post Offices is like asking someone whether they want to lose a limb."Many local people, particularly our elderly and more vulnerable residents, rely on their local Post Office branch, not just for errands, but as a vital community hub. Many residents will feel helpless if these closures go through."
They will be consulting on the plan over the next six weeks but in previous instances the local consultations have not resulted in any changes in the original plans.
The Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 681 branches across London, resulting in the closure of 169 branches. The criteria is that everyone in London will be within at least one mile of their nearest branch
The Government has already undertaken a 12-week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2,500 from its current level of over 14,000.
Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for London, 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(R) services is both fully aware of the proposed changes and able to give views on them.
The Consultation is due to end on April
2, 2008.
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Emma Midgley
February 22, 2008
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