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Post offices disappear from London
Jason Beattie, Chief Political Correspondent19.02.08
Royal Mail is facing a legal challenge over its plans to shut 169 post offices in London.
The branches, which amount to a fifth of the network, face the axe under a fast-track closure programme.
The proposals provoked protest from all the main political parties, with one MP saying it was a "kick in the teeth" for Londoners.
Ken Livingstone said he would be calling for a judicial review, claiming the consultation period was contrary to official guidance.
The capital has already lost more than 300 post offices in four years, with numbers cut from 1,175 to 849.
But Royal Mail says more branches must go to stem losses of £3million a week and has launched a six-week consultation on its latest closure plans.
As part of a separate consultation process, Royal Mail is also considering closing two larger Crown post offices at Essex Road and Ludgate Circus.
The cutbacks come despite new figures showing London has just one branch for every 8,460 people - compared to the national average of one branch for 3,860. There is also anger at the way the closures are being forced through. Royal Mail wants to shut down the branches soon after the consultation exercise finishes in April.
The Mayor said the consultation should be extended to 12 weeks, adding: "London's post offices provide vital support for those who are most in need, particularly the elderly, disabled and those with young children. For many Londoners who do not have a bank account, the post office is an amenity they cannot do without."
Labour MP Kate Hoey said: "Londoners will be angry and frustrated at the sham nature of this consultation. The Post Office has already made up its mind. This is a body blow to communities across London, particularly the most vulnerable in the city."
The Conservative shadow minister for London, Bob Neill, said the closures would reduce the network to a shell.
"Labour are putting swathes of the London post office network under threat and putting people's livelihoods on the line yet they won't reveal the extent of post office closures until after the election," he said.
Liberal Democrat business spokesman Sarah Teather said: "Today's announcement is a kick in the teeth for Londoners. We already have a second-class service with half as many post offices per head as the rest of the UK. It is no wonder we have to queue so long to post a parcel."
Royal Mail said the vast majority of Londoners would still live within one mile by road of the nearest branch.
Nearly 90 per cent of the capital's population would see no change in their nearest branch, said a spokesman.
Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for London, said: "Taking the decision to close any post office branch is always very difficult and we know it will cause concern to many of our customers.
"Post Office Ltd's aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the minimum access criteria set by the Government." Those wishing to register their views should contact www. postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or write to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation (no stamp required) or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk.
THE 169 POST OFFICE BRANCHES THAT ARE FACING CLOSURE
Abbeville Road, 34 Abbeville Road, Clapham, London, SW4 9NG
Acre Lane, 154 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UT
Albemarle Road, 40 High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1AY
Alexandra Park Road, 100 Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
Askew Road, 68 Askew Road, London, W12 9BJ
Balham High Road, 258 Balham High Road, London, SW17 7AW
Barking Road, 524 Barking Road, Plaistow, London, E13 8QE
Bath Road, 382 Bath Road, West Drayton, UB7 0DH
Battersea Park Road, 268 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 3BP
Bennetts Castle Lane, 238 Bennetts Castle Lane, Dagenham, RM8 3UU
Bensham Lane, 104 Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath, CR7 7ES
Bishopsford Road, 3 Hillfield Parade, Bishopsford Road, Morden, SM4 6BG
Blackheath Hill, 11 Blackheath Hill, London, SE10 8PB
Blackstock Road, 149 Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2JS
Boileau Parade, 2 Boileau Parade, Boileau Road, London, W5 3AQ
Bollo Bridge Road, 102-104 Bollo Bridge Road, Acton, London, W3 8DD
Bostal Hill, 43 Bostal Hill, London, SE2 0RB
Brampton Road, 301-303 Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 5QR
Brentfield Estate, Willesden, London, NW10 0PX
Broad Street, 87 Broad Street, Dagenham, RM10 9HP
Broad Street, 30 Broad Street, Teddington, TW11 8RF
Buckingham Road, 80 Chandos Crescent, Edgware, HA8 6HL
Burlington Road, 82 Burlington Road, New Malden, KT3 4NU
Caledonian Road, 100 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DN
Caledonian Road, 492 Caledonian Road, London, N7 9RP
Camborne Avenue, 1 Camborne Avenue, Romford, RM3 8RH
Cambridge Parade, 336 Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 2DU
Carlton Parade, 12-13 Carlton Parade, Orpington, BR6 0JB
Carshalton Road, 213 Carshalton Road, Carshalton,SM5 3PZ
Cassland Road, 142-144 Cassland Road, London, E9 5DA
Central Hill, 75 Central Hill, Norwood, London, SE19 1BS
Chase Side, 122A Chase Side, Enfield, EN2 0QN
Chatsworth Road, 11 Chatsworth Road, London, E5 0LH
Chestnut Grove,127 Richmond Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 5BX
Childs Hill, 366 Cricklewood Lane, Childs Hill, London, NW2 2QJ
Chingford Road, 228 Chingford Road, Walthamstow, London E17 5AL
Chipstead Valley Road, 217 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, CR5 3BR
Chiswick High Road, 110 Chiswick High Road,London, W4 1PU
Churchfield Road, 24 Churchfield Road, London, W3 6EG
Clapham High Street, 16 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UT
Coombe Lane (350), West Wimbledon, London, SW20 0RJ
Court Parade, 5 Court Parade, East Lane,Wembley, HA0 3HY
Coventry Parade, 299 Hall Lane,London, E4 8NU
Cranford Parade, 153 North Hyde Road, Hayes, UB3 4NS
Cricklewood, 67 Walm Lane, London,NW2 4QR
Crofton Lane, 86 Crofton Lane, Orpington,BR5 1HD
Crowndale Road, 18 - 22 Crowndale Road, London,NW1 1TT
Devons Road, 159 Devons Road, London, E3 3QX
Dockhead, 31 Dockhead,London,SE1 2BS
Dollis Valley, 39-40 Dollis Valley Way,Barnet, EN5 2UJ
East Finchley, 121 East End Road, London, N2 0SZ
East Street, 221 East Street, Walworth, London,SE17 2SS
Emerson Park,2 Berther Road,Hornchurch,RM11 3HS
Englands Lane,28 Englands Lane, Hampstead, London,NW3 4UE
Fencepiece Road, 158 Fencepiece Road, Ilford, IG6 2LB
Ferme Park Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 4ED
Field Road, 66 Field Road, Forest Gate, London,E7 9DL
Foots Cray, 3 Hollytree Parade, Sidcup Hill, Sidcup,DA14 6JR
Forest Road, 619 Forest Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 4NE
Formosa Street, 12 Formosa Street, London, W9 1EE
Freezywater, 775 Hertford Road, Enfield, EN3 6SE
Fulham Road, 780 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5SL
Gander Green Lane, 143 Gander Green Lane, Sutton, SM1 2EZ
Garratt Lane, 179 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4DP
Gipsy Road, 242 Gipsy Road, West Norwood, London, SE27 9RB
Gobions, 37 Gobions Avenue, Romford, RM5 3SS
Goldhawk Road, 88 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 8HD
Green Lane, 129-131 Green Lane, Morden, SM4 6SE
Green Street, 200 Green Street, Enfield, EN3 7NB
Greenford Green, 1238 Greenford Road, Greenford, UB6 0HH
Grove Green Road, 374 Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 4AP
Hadley Wood, 26 Crescent West, Barnet, EN4 0EJ
Hainault, 194 New North Road, Ilford, IG6 3BD
Hampstead Heath, 65 South End Road, Hampstead Heath, London, NW3 2QB
Harrow Road, 272 Harrow Road, London, W2 5ES
Harrow Road, Willesden, London, NW10 5NT
Haven Green, Adjoining 2 Madeley Road, Haven Green, Ealing, London, W5 2LH
Headstone Gardens, 3 The Quadrant, Headstone Gardens, Harrow, HA2 6PN
Headstone Road, 119 Headstone Road, Harrow, HA1 1PG
Heylyn Square, 71 Heylyn Square, Bow, London, E3 2DW
High Road (435), North Finchley, London, N12 0AP
High Street, 26 High Street, Northwood, HA6 1BN
High Street, 298 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1NG
High Street Eltham, 263 Eltham High Street, London, SE9 1TY
High Street Plaistow, 115 High Street, Plaistow, London, E13 0AD
Highgate High Street, 7 Highgate High Street, London, N6 5JR
Hither Green Lane, 116 Hither Green Lane, Lewisham, London, SE13 6QA
Hook Rise, 311 Hook Rise South, Surbiton, KT6 7LS
Hylands, 154 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, RM11 1QH
Ickenham Road, 4 Station Parade, Ruislip, HA4 7DL
Ilderton Road, 1c Ilderton Road, South Bermondsey, London, SE16 3JU
Katherine Road, 241 Katherine Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 8PP
Kenyon Street, 58 Kenyon Street, Fulham, London, SW6 6LB
Kingston Road, 104 Kingston Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1LX
Ladbroke Grove, 2 Ladbroke Grove, London, W11 3BG
Lambeth Walk, 34 Vauxhall Street, London, SE11 5LG
Lee Nr Station, 11 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, London, SE12 0AA
Leinster Terrace (Temporarily closed), 31 Leinster Terrace, London, W2 3ET
Leyton Green, 674 High Road, Leyton, London, E10 6JP
Lisson Grove, 37 Lisson Grove, London, NW1 6UB
Lower Clapton Road, 235 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 8EG
Lower Richmond Road, 209 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1HJ
Maddock Way, 1 Maddock Way, Walworth, London, SE17 3NH
Masterman Road, 240 Masterman Road, London, E6 3NJ
Meads Lane, 100 Mead Lane, Ilford, IG3 8QN
Melbourne Grove, 7 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8RG
Mitcham Junction, 7-9 Seymour Road, Mitcham, CR4 4JX
Mitcham Lane, 274 Mitcham Lane, London, SW16 6NU
Moorfield Road, Moorfield Road, Cowley, Uxbridge, UB8 3SH
Murray Grove, 96-97 Murray Grove, London, N1 7QP
Nether Street, Nether Street, Finchley, London, N3 1NT
New Covent Garden, New Covent Garden Market, Nine Elms Lane, Westbridge, London, SW8 5HB
New Cross Road, 405 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6LA
Norbiton Common, 240 Kingston Road, New Malden, KT3 3RN
Norwood Green, 175 Norwood Road, Southall, UB2 4JD
Nunhead Nr Station, 6 Gibbon Road, London, SE15 2AS
Old Isleworth, 4 South Street, Isleworth, TW7 7BG
Old Kent Road, 654 Old Kent Road, London, SE15 1JF
Orford Road, 29 Orford Road, Walthamstow, London, E17 9NL
Page Green, 87 Broad Lane, South Tottenham, London, N15 4DW
Palmers Green, 6 Clock House Parade, Palmers Green, London, N13 6BG
Park Avenue, 135 Whitton Road, Hounslow, TW3 2EL
Park Parade, 6 Park Parade, Gunnersbury Avenue, London, W3 9BD
Peckham Road, 46 Peckham Road, London, SE5 8PX
Pennine Parade, Cricklewood, London, NW2 1NT
Pinner Green, 5 Pinner Green, Pinner, HA5 2AF
Plough Green, 380 Malden Road, Worcester Park, KT4 7NL
Plumstead Common Road, 119 Plumstead Common Road, London, SE18 2UQ
Portway, 80 Portway, Stratford, London, E15 3QJ
Potters Road, 12 Potters Road, New Barnet, Barnet, EN5 5HW
Pratts Bottom, 9 Charmwood Villas, Rushmore Hill, Pratts Bottom, Orpington BR6 7NJ
Putney Bridge Road, 279 Putney Bridge Road, London, SW15 2PT
Roe Green, Kingsbury, London, NW9 9AG
Romford Road, 710 Romford Road, Manor Park, London, E12 6BT
Salisbury Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6NL
Selhurst Road, 22 Selhurst Road, South Norwood, London, SE25 5QF
Shepherds Bush Road, 146 Shepherds Bush Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 7PB
Sherwood Park Road, 71 Sherwood Park Road, Mitcham, CR4 1NB
South Streatham, 7 Hermitage Lane, London, SW16 3LH
Starch Green, 7 Kings Parade, Askew Road, Starch Green, London, W12 9BA
Stoke Newington Road, 133-135 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 8BT
Stonebridge Park, Unit 4, Stonebridge Shopping Centre, Stonebridge Park, Willesden, NW10 8LB
Stratford Road, 11 Stratford Road, London, W8 6RF
Streatham Place (Temporarily closed), 47 Streatham Place, Brixton, London, SW2 4QG
Surbiton Park, 62 Surbiton Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 2HT
The Avenue, 22 The Avenue, London, W13 8PH
The Common, 38a Staines Road, Twickenham, TW2 5AH
The Hill, 82 High Street, Harrow, HA1 3LW
The Parade, 2 The Parade, Mitcham Road, Croydon, CR0 3HL
The Quarterdeck, 3 The Quarterdeck, Millwall, London, E14 8SH
Town Road, 242 Town Road, London, N9 0EX
Trinity Road, 318 Trinity Road, London, SW18 3RG
Uxbridge Common, 101 Park Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1NW
Uxbridge Road, 1086 Uxbridge Road, Hayes, UB4 0RJ
Walden Road, 4 Walden Parade, Walden Road, Chislehurst, BR7 5DW
Walton Road, 96 Warrior Square, Walton Road, London, E12 5RT
Watford Way, 272 Watford Way, Hendon, London, NW4 4UP
Watney Street, 81 Watney Street, London, E1 2QE
West Green Road, 434 West Green Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 3PT
Weston Park, 89 Weston Park, Hornsey, London, N8 9PR
Whitechapel, Unit 3, 75 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1DU
Wilton Way, 67 Wilton Way, London, E8 1BG
Wimbledon High Street, 16 Wimbledon High Street, Wimbledon Village, London, SW19 5DX
Woodford Avenue, 8 Spurway Parade, Woodford Avenue, Ilford, IG2 6UU
Woodford Near Church, 213 High Road, South Woodford, London, E18 2PB
Woodhall Parade, 79 Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 3AT
Woodside Parade, 10 Leopold Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 7BD
Woolwich Road, 8 Woolwich Road, London, SE10 0JU
Wrythe Lane, 131 Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, SM5 2RU
Reader views (12)
Now it takes at least 10 minutes in a queue to do anything at the Post Office so one goes there when there is no other alternative. How is it going to be in future? No wonder the Post Office is making losses. Could anybody run a business whithout sufficient resources as it is and propose the better the business with deploying even fewer resources.
- J. Killen, London W14
This should be a public service not a profit and loss account.
- William Godwin, twickenham middx
I feel very strongly that post offices should be allowed to remain open for business as people rely on them especially those with out a computer. Also were will you be able to post packages?
- Amelia Hartog, Hammersmith/London W6
This is a travesty and totally unacceptable. The post office should be subsidised if it is not profitable, surely we should be left with services that make life more pleasant and workable and it is obvious that not everything in life can turn a profit. Next they will sell off the parks to develop them! It makes a mockery of the attempt to reduce carbon emissions when there are no longer local services available and we all have to use transport of whatever variety to do our daily chores. Local is best and should be preserved! I am furious.
- Sheena Abbot-Davies, London
Despite massive protests in Glasgow the Post Office reprieved two branches from closure then promptly put another two not on the original closure list up for closure. Glasgow Labour MPs had voted for closure in May 2002. They all ran campaigns that can only be described as designed to fail against the Post Office closures. The Glasgow Evening Times newspaper highlighted their hypocrisy on its front page much to their displeasure. Good luck to any campaigns against these closures. Our own Post Office despite being "in profit" and receiving 5,600 letter of protest still closed. The closures are about 5-6 weeks after they are decided. There is NO appeal!
- Ken Ronald, Glasgow
The savings are needed to pay Croziers £1.1million wages.He also receives a £300,000 bonus.Best of all is that Royal Mail paid in an extra £700,000 into Croziers and Alan Leightons pension fund.This is when they are telling the staff that cuts have to be made to the pension of "ordinary workers".Croziers wage rise this year was 26%.Savings must be made to fund this man's massive pay and pension package.
- Eddie Mcloughlan, Keighley
They're closing down Palmers Green which is a really busy post office! Even though there a usually four desks open The queue always stretches out onto the street. Are they expecting the nearby Winchmore Hill (max two desks) to cope with the extra traffic when it always has it's own queues?
What a nightmare!
- Hattie, London
Good riddance, close the lot. The complete lack of service and comprehensive absence of value from a purely consumer perspective in the modern world is staggering. What they provide is inadequate and to pay for and receive it takes forever. My most recent experience being a perfect but not isolated example. The service I required was a 40-pound postal order. The cost of the service was £3.50 or a staggering 8.75% commission. The time spent waiting in the queue on Farringdon Road to establish this in the absence of any published tariff was 22 minutes. The method of payment was, cash or, ironically cheque. My NatWest debit card was not accepted nor was my MasterCard. Cash would have been an option but using the cash till in the building at a fee of 1.50 was not available as it was "out of order". My conclusion, rather than wait another 20 minutes, was to find another way. So I left, now 30 minutes poorer. During my wait in the queue I counted 32 people carrying large packages or forms needing some bureaucracy. 20 minutes average queuing time for each person approximates to 640 minutes of lost UK productivity or 10 hours of one person's time. Multiplied across the country this adds up to a large waste of time. It confuses and saddens me a great deal when I read of troops being compromised for their lack of equipment abroad at the same time as calls by the left for public subsidy of the post offices. Close the lot.
- John Hatton, Battersea, London, England
Sounds reasonable to me, I have about 10 post offices in a 3 mile radius of my home, 1 of these is on the list, the post office in question is in a newsagents and run from behind the counter (without any security devices against robbers) and quite frankly is not fit for purpose.
- Pat Dapostino, London
This has got to stop. I already have to trek miles to find a Post Office where I then queue for hours to get served. Now they propose to close this office as well, I just don't understand how people are supposed to use the Post Office if they can't actually find one.
- Simon, London
Why is this esential service run like a little private company, this is a public service and an essential one, local people who face losing there post office must stand up and fight this nonsense before the whole postal system collapses and is only run for business mail and services, Post office users of the world UNITE!
- Brian, Wiltshire
Where will I go in future to send a parcel? Looking at this list, there will be no post offices left.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
