Community Life

For residents in Redbridge the decision means that five post offices will close. An outcome that has been met with anger by the local council. Cllr Keith Prince, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Environment, said:

"This is nothing short of an insult to the dedicated users and staff of Redbridge's post office branches, which form such an important part of the social and economic infrastructure of our local communities.  One can be forgiven for thinking that the whole consultation exercise was a sham and amounted to nothing more than simply a prelude to their imminent closure, regardless of the strength or volume of the case for retention."

He went on to say:

"This is a further erosion of one of the fundamental building blocks that hold communities and neighbourhoods together and casts an ominous shadow in the longer term, over the borough's remaining post office branches."

Campaigners are equally upset by the decision, while the post office owners are now either selling up or looking at new business ventures.

Post Office Ltd say that there will still be over 600 post offices operating in London, and promise that,  'residents will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile, by road distance, of an alternative branch.'

Waltham Forest

Meanwhile in Waltham Forest, although three sub post office branches will close, councillors, campaigners and residents are anxiously awaiting the result of three more post offices that are subject to further review. A decision's expected to be made at the end of May.

In a joint statement by Council leader, Clyde Loakes and Deputy leader Cllr Keith Rayner they expressed disappointment at the closures, "We are disappointed that three of our local post offices will be closed... and we condemn Post Office Ltd's decision, which will put an unnecessary strain on residents and other branches."

They went on to say that the Council will not let up the campaign and will continue to put pressure on Post Office Ltd to take local needs into account saying:

"The Council will continue to fight the proposed closure of the three post offices."

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