Russell's Westminster meetings to oppose Post Office closures

12.00.00am GMT Thu 29th Nov 2007

Letter box

Colchester MP Bob Russell has had two top level meetings at the House of Commons at which he set out his opposition to proposals by the Post Office to close three Sub-Post Offices in the town - at North Station Road, Parsons Heath and Pownall Crescent (Berechurch Road).

His first meeting was with a representative from East of England Postwatch, the watchdog group for Post Office services, and the second was with two senior officials from Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd.

Mr Russell said: "I made it clear that I was opposed to the proposed closures which, if they go ahead, will mean, following earlier closures, that the number of Post Offices in Colchester will have halved to just 13 from when the Labour Government came to power ten years ago.

"I recognise that the closures are a direct result of Government policies, and that as a consequence Post Office Ltd finds itself in a difficult situation. However, I pointed out that the proposed closure of these three branches would cause considerable inconvenience to local residential communities and, in respect of the one in North Station Road, problems for the many businesses based in nearby office blocks."

Mr Russell added: "I told them that separate campaigns to save the Post Offices had been organised in the three areas, and that I backed these campaigns."

He pointed out that when the Post Offices at Mile End and Bergholt Road shut in two earlier rounds of closures, residents in both areas were directed to use the Post Office in North Station Road. Likewise, with the closures of Winnock Road and St George's (Canterbury Road) Post Offices the Pownall Crescent Post Office was given as an alternative. "Now we are told that the alternative locations are to close."

Mr Russell said that while, in distance, North Station Road was not far from the Crown Post Office at the top of North Hill, it was not convenient for businesses in the North Station Road and Middleborough areas, and he was concerned that they would now be forced to take vehicles onto the town's congested road network to carry out their requirements which can currently be undertaken by simply walking to the nearby North Station Road Post Office.

"The closure of the North Station Road Post Office in particular makes a nonsense of the Government's declarations on sustainable communities, and it also applies to Parsons Heath and Pownall Crescent."

Mr Russell said, in addition to the local campaigns against the closures, it was important that residents and businesses lodged formal complaints as well. Written objections should be sent as soon as possible to: Sheila McCann, Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST, Consultation Team. E-mail objections can be sent to consultation@postoffice.co.uk