Anger as the axe falls on doomed post office (From Borehamwood Times)

Anger as the axe falls on doomed post office

8:10am Friday 22nd August 2008 in News By Suruchi Sharma

Post Office officials have confirmed the Elstree branch will close by the end of the year.

The final decision was revealed on Tuesday following a six-week public consultation that ended on July 28.

It had been announced by the Post Office on June 17 that the High Street branch was earmarked for closure.

Customers will now have to use alternative offices in Borehamwood and Edgware.

The busy Borehamwood branch is 1.4 miles from the current post office in Elstree and 1.6 miles from the Edgware branch, leaving residents as part of the five per cent of the urban population not to have a branch within one mile of their doorsteps.

Elstree post office submistress Kumunthini Easpranathan said she was disappointed with the decision and how much it would affect the elderly.

She said: “I thought when the first announcement came that we would somehow not close but it has happened and I am very sad.

“The closure will make the lives of the elderly in the area much harder. I can’t explain how much they are going to suffer as a result of this service being taken away.”

The decision follows widespread criticism from residents and town, borough and county councillors after the proposed closure was first announced.

Support for the campaign to save the post office came from Hertsmere MP James Clappison, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Councillor Morris Bright, and Elstree councillor Derrick Gunasekera.

In July they spoke at a public meeting called by the Borehamwood & Elstree Times, which was attended by more than 60 residents.

Mr Clappison said: “I am appalled by the decision to close Elstree post office and equally disgusted by the way in which the Post Office conducted the consultation.

“I understand that the National Audit Office is conducting inquiries into the consultation process and I will be drawing attention to the failure of the Post Office to send a representative to the well-attended public meeting.”

Mr Bright called the closure decision an “absolute disgrace” and asked for the community to continue campaigning.

He said: “It feels like we have just been ignored by a company intent on steamrolling through its decisions without a care for the people this appalling plan will affect.

“We must fight this decision. The Post Office needs to look to its conscience and at least have the courtesy to come and visit Elstree in a proper face-to-face consultation with residents “I am appalled that another nail has been hammered by an uncaring Government and heartless Post Office Ltd into the coffin of local community.

“I am angry for the elderly, the infirm, the mobility impaired, local businesses and residents in general for whom the Elstree village post office is so important. Elstree deserves much better. This fight is not over yet.”

Councillor Gunasekera campaigned with Councillor Bright by distributing leaflets to encourage residents to participate in the consultation.

He said: “I’m very sorry to hear that this has happened. It will have a terrible impact on the community and people will find it difficult to go to other post offices.

“As a local councillor I am both angry and disappointed for the Elstree people.

“It is a shame and a sad loss for everyone in the area.”

Gary Herbert, Post Office Ltd’s network development manager for South Hertfordshire, said: “These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation.

“We believe that the amended plan offers our customers across South Hertfordshire the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government’s minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider.”

The situation in Elstree mirrors the picture nationwide where up to 2,500 post offices have been earmarked for closure of already shut.

That comes in the light of Post Office Ltd, which is subsidised by the Government, taking drastic measures to cut financial losses and falling customer numbers.

A report on the Post Office website said: “Post Office Limited has reviewed the capacity of both of the two nearest alternative branches to absorb the expected increase in customer numbers from the proposed closure of Post Office Elstree branch and the local housing and social developments and is satisfied that good service levels can be maintained.

“Taking these and all other relevant factors into account, including the needs of our more vulnerable customers, Post Office Limited has decided to proceed with the proposed closure of Post Office Elstree branch.”