POST OFFICE CLOSURES KICK IN THE TEETH FOR ST ALBANS LOCAL COMMUNITIES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 17th Jun 2008

Local communities and villages are further isolated, adding to the sense that the Government has lost the plot

"The announcement that five local post office branches are to be closed is far worse than we had anticipated," says Sandy Walkington. "2500 post offices are being closed nationwide in this latest round of cuts, so five is more than St Albans's fair share. No wonder Labour delayed the announcement till after the local elections."

"Each of these five closures will impact on the local communities affected, both residents and small businesses. In the case of Smallford Post Office, it is about the further isolation of the communities of Smallford and Sleapshyde. It is now one-and-a half miles to the next nearest post office, across the barrier of the A414 in Colney Heath.

"Batchwood also becomes a post office free zone," Sandy pointed out. "High Oaks has already lost its post office, now residents from there and from Ladies Grove will have even further to walk or travel to access postal services - and the distances are exaggerated for older people by the hills. And of course it means there will be no post office adjacent to the hospital.

Commenting on the closure of Prospect Road, local councillor David Poor said "people in Sopwell tend to have less access to cars than other areas in St Albans. The Government talks about helping local communities and then gives us a good kicking by removing one of our main community assets."

"This seems to have been a numbers game by the post office and the government," Sandy said. "They are just flailing round trying to cut themselves to profit. History shows that this kind of salami-slicing never works. In the meantime local communities and villages are further isolated, adding to the sense that the Government has lost the plot."

ENDS

For further information, please contact Sandy Walkington on 07802 177317