Walsworth Post Office to Close Permanently
| Published: 3rd December 2008 15:39 |
The permanent closure of Walsworth Post Office branch was confirmed yesterday (Tuesday 2 December) by Post Office Ltd, following a further six-week public consultation ending on 10 November 2008.
The following information has been extracted from the Post Office Ltd press release on this matter:
In July 2008 Post Office Ltd developed and published a local area plan proposal for Hertfordshire setting out the changes it proposed to make as part of the implementation of the Government decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2,500 from its current level of more than 14,000 while continuing to provide funding to support a more sustainable network in the future.
As a result of feedback received during the local six-week public consultation Post Office Ltd amended its proposal by deciding not to proceed with the proposed closure of the Whitwell Post Office branch and proposed that the Walsworth branch on 136 Cambridge Road should be closed.
A relatively small number of responses were received during the local public consultation period regarding Post Office Ltd's proposal to close this branch permanently. The main concerns expressed by respondents related to the accessibility of the alternative branches, particularly for elderly and disabled customers, the availability of bus services to the nearest alternative branch (Highbury) and the potential impact of the proposed closure on the local community. Post Office Ltd has considered all responses received during the local public consultation and a review of this proposal has been undertaken:
- Walsworth branch is located approximately one and a half miles from the centre of Hitchin and has been temporarily closed for more than a year. The nearest alternative branch - Highbury - is approximately one and a quarter miles from the Walsworth branch and the second nearest alternative branch, in Hitchin town centre, is approximately one and three quarters of a mile away.
- Both these alternative branches are accessible for customers with mobility difficulties. Both branches have ramps at their entrances, wide doors and low-level counters inside. Time-restricted car parking is available outside the Highbury branch. In addition, there are two dedicated disabled parking spaces approximately 30 yards from the town centre branch and a car park within approximately 500 yards of the branch.
- The town centre branch is located in a semi-pedestrianised area, close to many other high street retailers and there is a Shopmobility scheme in operation in the town centre. A regular bus service runs from the Walsworth area into the centre of Hitchin, with free off-peak local bus travel offered to people over 60 and disabled people, with low-level access available on most buses. A Dial a Ride service also operates in the local area. Taking these and all other relevant factors into account, including the needs of our more vulnerable customers, Post Office Ltd has decided to proceed with the proposed permanent closure of Walsworth Post Office® branch.
Laura Tarling, Network Development Manager for Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and South Lincolnshire said "We know that any decision to close a Post Office branch will often be unpopular but we have to put the network on a more stable footing for the future.
"We still have more branches open in the area than all the major banks and building societies combined and 99.5 per cent of people will see no change to the branch they currently use or will remain within a mile of an alternative."
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