News Date: Monday 3rd December 2007
MASSIVE TURNOUT TO SAVE LOCAL POST OFFICES
On Saturday (1st December) just over two hundred local Sompting and Lancing residents turned out to two packed public meetings, organised by East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, to question Post Office representatives about their plans to close down Post Offices vital to the local community.
There was standing room only at Sompting Community Centre where over 70 people turned out to save Bowness Avenue Post Office and in Lancing over 130 people turned out to the meeting at North Lancing First and Middle School to save Mill Road Post Office.
Local residents were most concerned by the extra distance that would have to be travelled to reach the next nearest Post Office. This would be a particular problem for the elderly population and it was noted that although the Post Office have calculated it is 0.9 miles from Bowness Road Post Office to the next nearest Post Office in Lancing they have not taken into account the fact that many people live well beyond the Post Office. And also that in order to take a safe route and to avoid crossing the busy A27 at a dangerous place residents will have to add another mile to this predicted 0.9 mile journey.
There has also been a recent spate of pensioner muggings and bag snatchings - this longer travelling distance will put them at greater risk of misfortune.
The findings of a survey carried out by a local Post Office sub master into the environmental cost of these closures was of concern to many of those present. Eighty per cent of North Lancing's Post Office users said that if it closed down they would drive to their next nearest post office. A massive thirty-one acres of trees would have to planted in order to offset this increase in Adur's carbon footprint.
At the meetings it was also pointed out that Lancing Business Park is next to Bowness Post Office and that the majority of the 160 businesses on site were strongly against the closure of their local Post Office. Those attending also raised concern about the threat to local shops, which make up the heart of Adur's community, if the closures of these Post Offices go ahead.
Tim commented:
"The fact that so many local residents turned out to make their views heard on these absurd proposals to close local Post Offices proves just how essential these services are to my constituents.
"I hope that the Post Office representatives who were present have now begun to understand the strength of concern amongst residents about their proposals and that they will reconsider their alarming plans.
"Under Post Office plans, East Worthing and Shoreham will lose 7 of its branches - this is more than any other constituency in West Sussex. The Post Office are advocating an 18% closure of Post Offices nationally and yet a massive 60% of branches in Adur. Why?
"Thousands of people have already signed my petition to save local Post Offices. Anyone who hasn't already can sign up here."
ENDS
Note to Editor:
1) The Post Offices representatives present at the meetings were Martine Munby and Nick Beal.
2) Local residents concerned about the closures should also write directly to the Post Office to Gary Herbert, Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM or can email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
3) For further information about Tim Loughton's campaign to save local Post Offices please contact Ruth Farrer-Langton on 020 7219 1622 or visit www.timloughton.com
