Some people have asked what the Belsize Residents Association is doing about the threatened closures of local post offices. We decided that targeted letter writing is the correct approach this time, since it is a London-wide programme and could close 20

Some people have asked what the Belsize Residents Association is doing about the threatened closures of local post offices.

We decided that targeted letter writing is the correct approach this time, since it is a London-wide programme and could close 20 per cent of Camden's post offices.

We would urge all Camden residents and businesses that are affected to write and object. Letters in reply to the post office consultation should demonstrate the weak points in their arguments and provide factual evidence against their suggested alternatives.

Letters to politicians both national and local should argue against the policy of reducing the number of post offices. It is they who make the decisions which relate to services within the community. It is the politicians, nationally and locally, who have withdrawn business which is he lifeblood of the post offices.

They all need to know the strength of the opposition to these closures. The consultation closes on April 2 and all replies must be received by that date if they are to be considered.

Address your response to Anita Turner, Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM, or email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk.

Helen Cordell

Chairman Belsize

Residents Association

IN South End Green, in common with other parts of London and of the country, we are facing the closure of our local post office and the closure of the two police stations which serve this area.

This is part of a whole strategy which is destroying local communities - we are facing a situation where people are no longer individuals who can bring something rich to society, but the numbers of which Graeme Green wrote.

We have to gravitate to centralised services - the nuts and bolts of how such services can be accessed by all seems to be of absolutely no consequence to the government of the day.

I have voiced in this very newspaper before today the fact that the South End Green Association is non political but the above onslaught, which so clearly emanates from the government, makes it unavoidable to say otherwise.

We are fighting for our community here at South End Green and for our local small traders who are rapidly becoming a rare breed - we are fighting against the might of government - we need everyone to unite in the face of this threat.

Yet in the midst of all this we find some politicians trying simply to make political capital out of it - truthfully they have little more real interest in the community than the government - they just want to be seen to be the ones who act, very often without consultation with local residents' associations.

Last Thursday (March 13) I read of the meeting to beheld at the old Hampstead Town Hall on Monday about the closure of post offices, which would be attended by Post Office Ltd representatives.

At South End Green they kept us waiting two weeks to reply in the negative to our invitation to attend a meeting at South End Green.

And so we had four days to muster our supporters for this meeting - why was it not publicised better, to be open to all?

When SEGA held a meeting at South End Green it was very well publicised. I venture to suggest that this was meant to be a political 'high scorer'.

We need everyone to work together, regardless of political persuasions, to fight this insidious rotting of the heart of our community life.

Pam Gilby

Chairwoman, South End

Green Association