Post Office Closures - Only When ALL Other Possibilities Exhausted

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 2nd Nov 2007

Closure will deprive the local community of an essential community service

Re: Gladstone Rd and Beaver Rd Sub Post Offices, Ashford

Letter sent to Mr Gary Herbert, Network Development Manager for Kent, 2nd November 2007

Dear Mr Herbert

I am writing on behalf of my constituents with regard to Post Office Ltd intention to close 2 sub post offices:

1. Division Gladstone Rd Sub Post Office

2. Beaver Rd Sub Post Office

The closure of these two sub post offices are primarily recommended by Post Office Ltd on economic grounds. These closures will however deprive the local community of an essential community service provided to the more vulnerable members of the community, who use these sub post offices. For many it may be the only time they talk to anyone socially.

It is not sufficient to say there is another post office within a designated distance. A significant number of elderly people, single parents and disabled people, for example, do not own a car. For these groups the sub post office and local shops are very convenient and ensure they remain independent. Those individuals who would be reliant on public transport to reach the alternative post office and are not entitled to free travel will also need to find the additional money for fares from their already low incomes.

I appreciate there has been a Government edict to close Post Offices nationally which has led Post Office Ltd to identify 58 post offices in Kent for closure. But rather than the closure of post office, especially those which are providing an essential community services. Can we not work in partnership to consider whether there are any other alternative solutions available i.e. franchise, community run post offices services, etc. so that closure becomes the final inevitable solution when all other possibilities have been exhausted?

I therefore request that the opportunity to find an alternative to closures is considered for the Gladstone Rd and Beaver Rd Sub Post Offices in Ashford

Yours sincerely,

George Koowaree

Kent County Councillor Ashford East