Blame all round for closures (From Watford Observer)

Blame all round for closures

6:30pm Friday 22nd August 2008 in News By Michael Pickard

Liberal Democrat protests failed to save the Bushey Mill Lane branch.

Watford MP Claire Ward and the town’s Liberal Democrats have blamed each other for failing to save three post offices from the axe.

Post Office Ltd announced on Tuesday that seven branches in south-west Hertfordshire – those in Bushey Mill Lane, Watford; Queens Road, Watford; Bushey Hall Road, Bushey; Leavesden Road, Watford; Little Oxhey Road, South Oxhey; Money Hill Parade, Rickmansworth and Baldwins Lane, Croxley Green – will close under plans to shut 37 across South Hertfordshire, South Essex and Buckinghamshire.

Some 2,500 will close across the country, to secure the future of a network that lost more than £200 million in 2006/7.

Ely Sriragavan has run the Bradshaw branch in Bushey Mill Lane, with the help of wife Jasmine, for 15 years. But the father-of-one cannot understand why his shop will shut by the end of November.

He said: “I was thinking they might change their minds because of where we are and the parking available makes it suitable. We are fairly busy, but I don’t know what their criteria was.

“The shop cannot survive at all. I will have to find another job or another post office, whichever comes first. I have a mortgage to pay. I hope the compensation is fairly good.”

Watford-born Winifred Reeves, of Douglas Avenue, 76, uses the shop for “everything”, and said without it, “it’s going to be hell”.

The widow and retired home-help said: “I use a walker to get here. You cannot put that on a bus. They will say you can get on a bus, but they will not have to stand out in the winter in the cold.”

Nitin Parmar, postmaster of the Bushey Hall Road branch, said he was not surprised by the announcement as his customer numbers were below target. His outlet will close at the end of September.

Mr Parmar, 47, who has worked for the Post Office since 1981, said: “We’ve come to terms with it. We will maintain the shop but I will have to start looking for another job.

“I knew it was going to happen. They wanted me to go two years ago but I said no. This time there was no option.”

Ms Ward was “outraged and disappointed” at the announcement to close three Watford branches, particularly Bradshaw.

She said: “Many of my most vulnerable constituents, particularly pensioners, rely on Bradshaw as they are unable to travel to other branches. Furthermore, I am also very concerned about local businesses in the area and the impact the closure will have on them.

“Liberal Democrat-controlled Watford Borough Council must share some blame too for failing to respond to the pre-consultation process. I am saddened residents could not rely on their local council to reflect their views to the Post Office because the Liberal Democrats were more interested in scoring party political points.

“My constituents can be assured that I am now demanding answers from Royal Mail on how they intend to meet the needs of local people without Bradshaw Branch.”

However, Watford deputy mayor Derek Scudder said the MP knew in advance which branches would close before the six-week public consultation began – a claim Ms Ward has previously denied.

He said: “The council responded fully to the formal consultation. The first we heard about the closure of Watford’s three branches was when the public consultation began, unlike MPs who were given an indication which branches would be up for closure quite some time in advance.

“It’s very clear and a sad state of affairs that she is desperately trying to wriggle out of taking responsibility for the Post Office closures. I suppose it’s because she is very worried about losing her seat to the Lib Dems at the next election.”

Gary Herbert, Post Office Ltd’s network development manager for South Essex, South Herts and Bucks, said: “These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation. We believe that the amended plan offers our customers across South Essex, South Herts and Bucks, the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government’s minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider.”

In addition, a branch in Harcourt Road, Bushey, is one of four further Post Offices facing the axe. A public consultation will be announced shortly.