'Borough Crown Post Office closure - a worrying plan' - Simon Hughes

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Mar 2008

Responding to this week's announcement by the Post Office that they plan to give up the Crown Post Office opposite Borough tube station and move into a Costcutter store in Southwark Bridge Road which is not yet open, Simon Hughes the local Liberal Democrat MP said:

'This is a worrying plan which needs the closest attention and has significant risks.

'With the local community, local councillors and others, several years ago we won the argument to keep open the Crown Post Office in the Borough. Since then, the number of residents and businesses locally has increased as has the number of tourists. Nobody could argue that the familiar and appreciated Borough Post Office is not a service which is much used and much needed.

'North Southwark lost a key service when the Elephant and Castle Crown Post Office closed a few years ago, and the pressure on the Walworth Road office has since then led to longer queues and frustration.

'Although the Post Office are proposing to move Borough Post Office and not completely close it, the new office will be part of a general store and not have the dedicated facilities and staff of a Crown Post Office. The community are right to fear that this may be a more vulnerable business in the future, where guarantees of opening times and services may not be as secure in years ahead.

'The other big risk in this move would be if the Southwark Bridge Road venue is less popular and less viable than the present prime site in Borough High Street. A reduction in customers and custom could be a slippery slope to a very risky long term future.

'On top of all the other post offices in Southwark currently on the list for closure and the subject of very rigorous campaigns to keep them open, we could have done without this further threat and disruption from post office management.

'I shall make sure that there is full consultation with all surrounding residents and businesses and try to make sure that the final decision reflects the views of the local community and the best possible site for the Borough's main post office.

'The community has my assurance that I will be as vigorous in representing the community's views on these plans as on all previous closures the post office has proposed'.

ENDS