One post office saved, six to close within months
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| Mushtaq Bhatti, sub-postmaster of Page Green post office, celebrates his reprieve |
One post office in Haringey has been saved but six others are doomed to close as early as next month.
After a six-week consultation, the Page Green branch, in Broad Lane, has been named as one of just seven branches in the capital to stay open.
The announcement has come as a bitter disappointment to people who have fought to save branches in Alexandra Park Road, Ferme Park Road, Salisbury Road, Weston Park, West Green Road and High Street, Highgate.
Dave Morris, secretary of Haringey Residents Associations Federation, said: "The views and protests of Haringey residents have been contemptuously dismissed.
"Haringey residents responded magnificently to the outrageous threat of post office closures. The well-attended protests, public meetings, and the thousands signing petitions, demonstrated that people are angry that yet another public service is being deliberately run down."
Under the confirmed plan, the 155 branch closures across the capital are
scheduled to take place from as early as June.
The decision to keep the Page Green branch has been hailed a victory by campaigners.
Decisive factors were the high level of sheltered and temporary accommodation in the area, as well as a planned housing development in Tottenham Hale of up to 6,000 homes.
David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, said: "I am really, really pleased by the news.
"Even if we have only saved one office I do consider it a victory. Only seven branches in London were saved and ours was one of them. Together with your newspaper, we campaigned and we won."
Mushtaq Bhatti, sub-postmaster of Page Green, said: "As long as the community is happy, we are also happy.
"We've been here for 30 years and have an excellent relationship with our
customers."
Labour leader of Haringey Council George Meehan said: "This is good news, but we still consider that the arguments for keeping Page Green should apply to the other branches as well.
"Like thousands of our residents I am hugely disappointed by this decision which will impact the most vulnerable residents of the borough - the elderly and those with a disability."
He said the council was considering ways to keep the services going.
Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone, who campaigned to save post offices in her constituency, branded the consultation a "complete sham".
She said: "The Govern-ment promised it would listen but has proved itself completely deaf to the pleas from thousands of residents and community activists. The message was clear: we do not want these closures.
"Labour and Tories promised action against closures before the election, now is the time to deliver."
She vowed to keep fighting to save the post offices.
Susan Bennett, who battled to save the Alexandra Park branch, said: "This is absolutely gutting and very upsetting. We campaigned so hard and what for? I suspect it was already a forgone conclusion.
"Our Government has simply lost touch with society and I'd like to know what the Tories are going to said he would try to save to the post offices. What will his successor do?"
Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for London, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation.
"We believe that the amended plan offers our customers in London the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future."
Post Office bosses insist that most residents in London will not be affected by the closures and that a branch should be within one mile of their homes.
The closures were proposed by the Government as a way to curb losses of £4 million a week at the Post Office.
5:39pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Frank jnr on 2:30pm Fri 9 May 08
At least your campaign was slightly successful, but it is a shame about the other post offices.
People will really miss them. Why don't politicans realise the effect that such changes have on communities.
It makes me so angry when people go on and on and on about the green environment stuff, and yet these are problems being created right now, here today, and they can't do anything to help.
What a shame.
At least your campaign was slightly successful, but it is a shame about the other post offices.
People will really miss them. Why don't politicans realise the effect that such changes have on communities.
It makes me so angry when people go on and on and on about the green environment stuff, and yet these are problems being created right now, here today, and they can't do anything to help.
What a shame.
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