Post offices face final hammer blow
3:10pm Tue 8th Apr 08:: written by Glenn Mitchell
Post office bosses have confirmed that five out of six branches earmarked for the chop are to shut.
Maidenhead's Bridge Road outlet is the only site to escape the axe from the original six shortlisted.
The news has come as a devastating blow for the 6,500 people who signed up to fight for the vital community services to remain.
Petitions were started in under-threat outlets, Maidenhead MP Theresa May fought to block the move in the House of Commons and the Advertiser's own drive was backed by nearly 1,000 people.
The final decision was announced today and followed a public consultation process.
The Bridge Road post office is one of just three in the entire Surrey, Berkshire and West Sussex area to escape the chop.
Branches in Cookham Road, Wootton Way and Vicarage Road in Maidenhead are to close, along with Wargrave and Knowl Hill.
The Royal Borough was united in its criticism of the move. Cllr David Burbage, council leader, said: "We are delighted that people power has persuaded the Post Office to retain Bridge Road but bitterly disappointed it has ignored the overwhelming community need for the others."
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- Just shows you what a waste of time a public consultation process is. I do not believe that any member of the public would have supported the closure of any of these post offices. The government just pay lip service to democracy by having these consultations. They have already decided what they are going to do and they will do it - whatever the findings of the public consultation. The same thing will happen with the new runway at Heathrow, just wait and see!
- I agree with Cheesed Off's comments. It is shocking that local residents can get together a petition with over 6,000 signatures and yet it is totally ignored.
- At least they didn't close the one in Highway Avenue opposite Budgen's. That is the one I use and it is always very busy. Perhaps the other Post Offices wern't being used as much and so that is why they were closed. It is the same with all local shops - use it or lose it!
- Why didn't our local MP do more? What else are they there for? Just shows you, most MP's are a total waste of time, they are only interested in fiddling their expenses and buying expensive stuff from John Lewsi. They do not care about the man in the street and they are powerless to do anything useful.
- Have you ever thouight that perhaps Maidenhead was over provided with Sub Post Offices in relation to other towns ? The distance between them is normally a determaning factor. Just look at Berkshire as a whole and see how many PO's are being closed as opposed to other counties ! ! !
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