Shock as Streatham's Main Post Office is Axed

1.02.23pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 22nd May 2007

Another local post office that has been closed by Labour

Residents have reacted angrily to news that the main Crown Post Office in Streatham High Road is to shut its doors in November.

This shock announcement, made without consultation, comes soon after a series of closures of nearby sub-post offices driven by the Labour Government's policy of 'rationalization' of its over the counter services. Instead, under a deal made with newsagent and stationers WH Smith, post office services will be switched to the WH Smith branch opposite the Streatham Odeon.

The Labour Government has been robbing the Post Office of many traditional services worth £168 million last year which is more than the Post Office operating loss of £111 Million. Labour has plans to close another 2,500 post offices in its network and is 'trialling' the merger of main post offices with WH Smith's branches in over 70 locations around the country threatening the loss of 3,000 jobs.

The 'merger' with WH Smith, itself in well-documented financial trouble, has sparked widespread anger not least from the Communication Workers Union whose Assistant Secretary Andy Furey has said " We urge members of he public to use their power and boycott WH Smith's in order to retain a public service that is valued and trusted."

Meanwhile, in Streatham High Road many local residents are wondering how such a huge main post office, which regularly has queues out of the door, can possibly be squeezed into a narrow, cramped WH Smith's store that is located awkwardly over two floors. Even post office delivery van drivers point out that there is no loading bay outside Smith's and it is located at a busy junction with pedestrian crossings and bus stops.

Lib Dem Parliamentary campaigner Chris Nicholson said, "The Government behaves as if the Post Office's decline is inevitable and nothing to do with them. But time and again - on pensions, road tax, television licences and passports - they have taken business away from the Post Office."

Chris Nicholson added, "Closures are the fault of Labour Ministers, not technology or customers."

Local councillors have joined Chris Nicholson in opposing Labour's Post Office closure plans. Cllr Brian Palmer, St Leonards ward member, said, "This proposal is ripping the heart out of Streatham. People come from far and wide to use this Post Office and it is a much valued facility. The WH Smith's branch is small and it is hard to see how it will cope with the queues."

Thousands of angry users of Streatham's last remaining main Post Office have already signed a Lib Dem petition outside the Streatham Post Office branch and anyone who is concerned about the Government's latest attack on local Post Offices in Lambeth can sign the new online Lib Dem petition at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/streathampostoffice