Closure threat for post office

2:34pm Monday 30th June 2008

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THE village of Broome could lose its post office after being named as one of more than 50 across the region earmarked for closure.

The closures are affecting Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire, and come after a 12-week national consultation undertaken by the Government aiming to reduce the number of Post Office branches across the county by up to 2,500.

"These closures destroy communities," said Roy Lester of Broom Village Hall committee.

"The Post Office is an institution in Britain and I don't know of any other countries that would just get rid of them like this.

"I'm a traditionalist and the post office is a very valuable part of the village - once it's gone, it never comes back."

Mr Lester was particularly concerned about the impact of the decision on elderly people in the village.

"Older people go to the post office a lot and use the small shop there, which would also be lost, and when that closes, they won't be seen on such a regular basis and you can never be sure if they are well," he said.

"There isn't a brilliant bus route in the village and a lot of people are going to have to travel a lot further to do things they would have been able to do here in Broome."

Mark Partington, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire, said: "Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers.

"We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the proposed changes, and able to give views on them."

The announcement marked the start of a six-week public consultation period and anyone who wants to express their views can write to Mark Partington, Network Development Manager C/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM, email consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call 08457 22 33 44 by August 4.