Post Office announcement provokes cross-party outrage
Across the parties, it seems that one issue is set to provoke a similar response from Labour, Conservaties and Liberal Democrats.
Since it was announced yesterday that 8 Post Offices in Ealing would close, many political figures have made their opposition to the plans very clear.
Leader of Ealing Council, Cllr Jason Stacey, today said the Post Office could expect a robust response from Ealing Council over proposals to close eight post offices across the Borough. He urged residents to respond to the consultation and let the Post Office know exactly how the closures will affect them and their communities. The eight post offices under threat in Ealing Borough are:
1. Greenford Green, 1238 Greenford Road, Greenford
2. The Avenue, 22 The Avenue, West Ealing
3. Boileau Parade, 2 Boileau Parade, Ealing
4. Bollo Bridge Road, 102-104 Bollo Bridge Road, Acton
5. Churchfied Road, 24 Churchfield Road, Avton
6. Haven Green, 2 Madeley Road, Haven Green, Ealing
7. Norwood Green, 175 Norwood Road, Southall
8. Park Parade, 6 Park Parade, Gunnersbury Avenue, Acton
In addition there are three post offices that are close to Borough boundaries, whose closure could have an impact upon Ealing residents. These are:
1. Chiswick High Road, 110 Chiswick High Road, W4 (.Hounslow)
2. Askew Road, 68 Askew Raod W12 (Hammersmith & Fulham)
3. Goldhawk Road, 88 Goldhawk Road W12 (Hammersmith & Fulham)
Conservatives have been quick to condemn these proposals and have vowed to use the 6 week consultation period to fight them all the way.
Richard Barnes, local London Assembly member said ‘The Post Office may think that London can absorb closures more readily than rural areas, but try telling that to mothers with young children, the elderly, the disabled and other vulnerable groups.’
Angie Bray, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central & Acton says ‘Telling us that these proposals will save £3m a year on the same day the Government announces it is giving £110billion of taxpayers’ money to subsidise Northern Rock is a real kick in the teeth.’
Almost half the sub-post offices in the constituency of Andy Slaughter MP are threatened with closure as part of Post Office Limited’s London wide closure plan announced today.
169 offices are set to close London-wide, but this includes seven of the 16 sub-offices in Ealing, Acton & Shepherds Bush. Most alarmingly four neighbouring offices in Shepherds Bush are all to be shut.
Cllr Jon Ball, the Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Ealing Central and Acton, has recently been campaigning against the slatted closure of 20% of London's post offices alongside Lib Dem Mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick.
Commenting on the closures, Cllr Ball said: "When Labour were in opposition they criticised Conservative Post Office cuts; but now they are in government, as with so much else, Labour are taking their lead from the Tories.
"It really beggars belief that Labour plan to close yet more Post Offices in Ealing. Postal Services in the borough were already cut to the bone during the last round of closures. These new cuts heap insult on injury. If Labour really care about the needs of local people, as they claim, then they have a strange way of showing it."
London Mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick said: Post Offices are often the heart of a local community and we must all do our utmost to preserve them. The trouble with economic arguments is that they leave people out of the equation and they are the most important part. Many people rely on a local Post Office, and to close 20% of London's Post Offices just shows a complete disregard for the needs of the local communities."
Andy Slaughter comments: ‘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. In addition offices in Boileau Parade, Bollo Bridge Road, Churchfield Road and Haven Green are marked for closure as is a Harrow Road branch used by constituents in College Park
‘We intend to fight the closures, but to do so we need to do more than petition and protest as we have in the past. PO Ltd are determined to close many offices and there is no point in just shouting the loudest. I intend to concentrate on two facts. Firstly, they have got much of the information about these post offices wrong. I visited several of the offices last weekend. The postmasters (and mistresses) told me that they offered many more services and were open longer hours and with better access than the PO Ltd claim. Secondly, losing this many offices in one small area is unfair and over-harsh treatment.
‘For many areas, like Askew Road, this comes on top of neglect by the local council and punitive enforcement of parking which has driven trade away from post offices and other shops. Shops are closing and the local shopping centres are getting run down. Tory councils like Hammersmith & Fulham and Ealing are focusing too much on big developers and ignoring local traders – as happened with the closure of Shepherds Bush station.
‘I am calling on the councils as well as PO Ltd to invest in local communities. If the existing post offices choose to close, we must look for alternatives – a post office in the local library or convenience stores. East Acton Post Office has just been saved by such a deal.’
February 20, 2008
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