In a letter to its Chief Executive, Cllr Tony Arbour, Leader of Richmond upon Thames Council, has demanded that The Post Office reconsider its decision to close six branches across the borough.

In May, the council presented Post Office representatives with a petition signed by over 700 residents protesting against the closures. However, Post Office Ltd still insist that the closures are necessary.

In his letter, Council Leader, Cllr Tony Arbour, says: "In recent years we have witnessed a steady decline in the level of service that the Post Office provides the public.

"My concern is that The Post Office's business case has made very little of the social dimension of the service. Post Office Ltd have made no form of commitment to deliver a public service to its customers. I am concerned that it will be our vulnerable residents that will suffer the most.

"The Post Office claims that its closures are designed to create a sustainable network of branches and that these alternative branches will prove to be accessible and able to cope with the increased demand. I have grave concerns that in Richmond upon Thames this will not be the case. The decision to close these Post Offices is rash and ill advised."

Cllr Arbour went on to demand the proposals be reconsidered. His voice adds to that of other local politicians, including the MPs', who have been trying to persuade the Post Office to revise its Network Reinventioin programme of borough closures.

Cllr Arbour's full letter to Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd

Sunday, August 1, 2004

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