POST OFFICE MARCH FROM WAVERLEY ROAD TO ST PETERS STREET

12.47.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Jul 2008

Local residents protesting outside Waverley Road Post Office which is threatened with closure

As part of the campaign against Post Office branch closures, local residents took to the streets on Saturday to march from the threatened Waverley Road Post Office to the central Post Office in St Peters Street.

Speaking to the group before they set off, Sandy Walkington read out the letter he was going to hand in at the Post Office to accompany some of the hundreds of petition signatures already collected.

Sandy slammed the Post Office for setting community against community by stating that any branch saved would have to be matched by a new closure. He also queried whether any consultation could be taken seriously when the official documentation showed such a sketchy knowledge of St Albans.

All away along the route of Normandy Road, Catherine Street and St Peters Street shoppers and passers-by came over to sign the petition. "There is huge strength of feeling against these proposals," Sandy said. "Many of those walking were frail and elderly, they brought messages of support from friends who simply could not join in, and I take my hat off to them for coming out in this way."