Amid post office anger and despair, there is room for hope

Published: 4:13 PM March 11, 2008 Updated: 10:10 AM February 20, 2021

Our government s untimely decision to axe post offices and force the Royal Mail to act as executioners, has provoked universal anger and disbelief. The Royal Mail, itself a victim, has been forced to decide which branches to close. Residents who lost th

Our government's untimely decision to axe post offices and force the Royal Mail to act as executioners, has provoked universal anger and disbelief.

The Royal Mail, itself a victim, has been forced to decide which branches to close. Residents who lost their post office during the previous cull and were promised continuation of service at a nearby branch, have no legal redress when that one closes.

The government stands by, looking the other way, while the infrastructure of our neighbourhoods is destroyed. Yet MPs across the political spectrum, and local councils, abhor the decision and its ramifications!

It seemed that no amount of objections, petitions or demonstrations would move this government until an enlightened local authority intervened. Essex Council proposes to take over the running of its threatened post offices, even to re-open or re-locate some already closed, for the next three years, producing a financially viable model. They are in discussion with the Post Office, as are other councils.

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I hope our local government will give us cause to applaud its initiative by at least exploring the possibility of reprieving much-needed post offices in Haringey.

If they do. my letter of appreciation will be in the post!