Postal closure plans spark public meeting

8:56am Saturday 12th July 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

The Borehamwood & Elstree Times will host a public meeting to discuss the potential closure of Elstree post office.

Hertsmere MP James Clappison, leader of Hertsmere Borough Council Morris Bright, Elstree councillor Derrick Gunasekera, and two Post Office officials will attend the meeting on July 22.

It will include a presentation by the Post Office and a question and answer session for residents.

Plans were announced last month that the High Road branch was earmarked for closure as part of the Post Office Network Change Programme. A final decision will be made at the end of a six-week public consultation period concluding on July 28.

If the branch closes, the Post Office has suggested customers should use alternative offices in Borehamwood and Edgware.

The company is subsidised by the Government and the latest plans meet its criteria to tackle financial losses and falling customer numbers.

Mr Clappison said he hoped residents would be active in the campaign by coming to the meeting to discuss the problems they may face if the post office closes.

He said: "It would be very easy for people to think the situation will solve itself. Residents now have the opportunity to discuss the detrimental effect on businesses, the importance of keeping rural post offices like Elstree open, and the inconvenience of using alternative facilities."

Mr Bright said: "There are a great number of benefits in getting people in one room talking about the same thing. Firstly, it allows people to understand the issues of closing a facility like this. Secondly, we can listen to all the reasons residents have as to how it will affect them.

"There is great power in people sitting together and sharing their thoughts and I welcome this meeting as a platform to make a difference to the campaign."

Elstree's sub-postmistress Kuminthini Easpranathan said: "I normally try to talk to as many people as I can when they come into the post office of the plans for closure.

"Some people still aren't aware of what is happening so this meeting will be a good idea to let everyone know what they can do to help."

The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 22, at the St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, St Nicholas Close, Elstree, at 7.30pm.

Anyone wanting to give their comments as part of the six-week consultation for Elstree post office should do so before Monday, July 28.

To send views to the Post Office, write to Gary Herbert, Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, Freepost.

Alternatively, email consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call the customer helpline on 08457 22 33 44.

Visit postoffice.co.uk for more information.