Call to Post Office Ltd to take action on Streatham High Road Post Office

11.51.00am GMT Mon 23rd Feb 2009

Chris and Caroline Pidgeon campaigning against closures

Chris Nicholson has written to the Chief Executive of Post Office Ltd, Alan Cook, demanding urgent action to make Post Office services available to all Streatham residents, not just those able to clamber up the stairs to the first floor of WH Smith. His demand comes following the revelation in the Streatham Guardian that because of frequent lift breakdowns many elderly and disabled residents and those with small children are unable to access Post Office services.

In 2007 local Liberal Democrats, led by Chris, collected a massive 5000 signature petition opposing the plan to close the main Post Office on the High Road and move the branch into WH Smith. Opposition was so strong because residents felt that having the Post Office on the first floor with only a flimsy lift would prove woefully inadequate. The Post Office ignored the petition and went ahead with the plans.

"Sadly, all our fears have been proved correct" said Chris "Streatham residents have been badly let down by the Government run Post Office Ltd. Any fool could see that the arrangements being put in place were inadequate. But the Post Office ignored our massive 5000 signature petition and pressed ahead.

"As they have failed to live up to their promises at the time, they should look seriously at re-opening the main Post Office. That would also give a big boost to Streatham by attracting people back to the High Road which is really suffering at the moment with shops closing almost weekly."