Decisions On The Future Of London Post Office ®Branches

07/05/2008

Post Office Ltd today announced decisions on the future of Post Office® branches across London following a six-week public consultation ending on April 2 2008. Post Office services will be provided though a network of 688 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that more than seven million London residents will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile, by road distance, of an alternative branch.

The plan confirmed today means that 155 branches will close in London with the first closures scheduled to take place from June 2008. These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on February 19 2008.

Seven branches originally proposed for closure -Kenyon Street Post Office®, 58 Kenyon Street, Fulham SW6 6LB; Kingston Road Post Office®, 104 Kingston Road, Wimbledon SW19 1LX; Lambeth Walk Post Office®, 34 Vauxhall Street SE11 5LG; Page Green Post Office®, 87 Broad Lane, South Tottenham N15 4DW; Shepherds Bush Road Post Office®, 146 Shepherds Bush Road, Hammersmith W6 7PB; Starch Green Post Office®, 7 Kings Parade, Askew Road W12 9BA; Walton Road Post Office®, 96 Warrior Square, Walton Road, E12 5RT; - will now remain open following a review of the issues raised during consultation.

The public consultation for one branch, Formosa Street Post Office® in W9, has been extended until May 30 and in addition, the proposal to close the following branches is currently under further review:

102-104 Bollo Bridge Road, W3 8DD
228 Chingford Road, E17 5AL
619 Forest Road, E17 4NE
242 Gipsy Road, SE27 9RB
240 Masterman Road, E6 3NJ
29 Orford Road, E17 9NL



The river Thames to the south west of Kenyon Street Post Office® would act as a natural barrier for some customers traveling to some of the other branches within a mile radius distance and Post Office Ltd recognises the two nearest alternative branches have steps into the premises, making access difficult for customers with limited mobility. Whilst there are bus services to the suggested nearest Post Office® branches, the location of bus stops are a prohibitive distance for people with limited mobility. In the light of these and all other factors Post Office Ltd has reviewed its proposals and Kenyon Street Post Office® branch will remain in the network.

The main concern raised about the Kingston Road Post Office ® branch was that the elderly, many of whom live in sheltered housing nearby, would be unable to reach other branches. Post Office Ltd is aware that that there is no bus route to the nearest alternative branch and although there is a bus service to the second nearest alternative Post Office® branch the location of the bus stop closest to Kingston Road Post Office® is a prohibitive distance for anyone with limited mobility and the route is hilly for pedestrians. Post Office Ltd also became aware of the fragility of other businesses near the Kingston Road branch and believes they would be adversely affected if the Post Office® closed. Taking these and all other relevant factors into account, Post Office Ltd has decided not to proceed with the closure of this branch.

The significant level of sheltered housing and a residential and business regeneration project as well as lack of a direct bus route to the nearest alternative Post Office® branch, led Post Office Ltd to reconsider its proposal for Lambeth Walk Post Office® branch. Taking these and all other relevant factors into consideration, Post Office Ltd has decided to retain Lambeth Walk Post Office® in its network.

Post Office Ltd was made aware of the high level of sheltered and temporary accommodation in the area surrounding the Page Green Post Office® branch, as well as the planned housing development in the Tottenham Hale area which will include up to 6,000 residential units. Taking these and all other relevant factors into consideration Post Office Ltd has decided to retain Page Green Post Office® branch in its network.

Taking into account other branches that are planned to be closed in the area near Shepherds Bush Road Post Office® branch, Post Office Ltd does not believe that it would be able to offer customer reasonable access to its services in the future if it went ahead with this closure. Taking all relevant factors into account, including the location of accommodation for people with special needs, the sheltered housing units nearby and the planned new business developments in Hammersmith, Post Office Ltd has decided to keep this branch in its network.

During the public consultation Post Office Ltd was made aware of planned new residential developments, including units specifically for people with special needs, near Starch Green Post Office® branch. Pocklington Lodge for visually impaired people is very close to Starch Green Post Office and residents would face difficulties in reaching any other branch. Taking into account other planned Post Office® closures in the vicinity Post Office Ltd believes these customers would be seriously disadvantaged if the Starch Green Post Office® closed and, taking this and all relevant factors into account, has decided to retain this branch.

Post Office Ltd received more details about existing sheltered accommodation and the large-scale £150 million regeneration project in the area near the Walton Road branch. The regeneration included the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new social housing accommodation. Taking into account other planned Post Office® branch closures in the area, Post Office Ltd believes that customers in this community would no longer have reasonable access to Post Office services if the Walton branch closed as the route to other branches is across busy roads in two different directions. Taking these and all other relevant factors into account, Post Office Ltd has decided to retain Walton Road Post Office® in its network.

Full details of the decisions and the issues raised during local public consultation are available by visiting www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or by writing to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp needed) or by emailing consultation@postoffice.co.uk.

During the six week local public consultation, Post Office Ltd received around 27,600 responses and attended 79 meetings with customers and their representatives to understand customers’ concerns and to ensure that all information provided by customers formed part of the final decision regarding each affected branch.

Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd’s Network Development Manager for London, 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 announced today offers our customers in London 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.

Crown Post Office Network

Crown Post Offices are not included in the Network Change Programme that is implementing the compulsory compensated closure of up to 2,500 Post Office branches nationally.
Post Office Ltd announced in April 2007 that, out of its 458 Crown Post Office branches nationwide, it would continue to directly run 373 with WHSmith operating an additional 70 from its nearby stores.
At the same time Post Office Ltd announced that further work would be carried out to review options such as potential franchising for the remaining 15 Crown Post Offices nationwide - seven of them in London.
One of these (Enfield Wash) has now been franchised and decisions will shortly be made about proposals to franchise Crown Post Offices in Tottenham, Maida Hill, East Acton and Borough High Street.
Public consultation has been held on a proposal to close Essex Road Crown Post Office in N1 but Post Office Ltd announced today it has been decided not to proceed with the closure of this branch at this time as discussions with a potential franchise partner are now underway. If these negotiations are successful there will be a six week consultation on a proposal to franchise this Post Office® branch.
It has been decided, following public consultation, to close the Crown Post Office at Ludgate Circus, 16-18 New Bridge Street , EC4 . However the date of closure of this Post Office branch will be delayed whilst Post Office Ltd explores potential provision of alternative access points for customers in the area to post mail. These could include the provision of some self-service mailing facilities and Post Office Ltd is currently in discussion with various interested parties.

The nearest alternative main Post Office® branches are 52, Blackfriars Road SE1 8NN which is half a mile away and 81/89 Farringdon Road, EC1M 3LL which is 0.6 miles away.

Issued by Post Office Ltd (24 hours)
148 Old Street
LONDON
EC1V 9HQ

Notes to Editors

Post Office® branches in the following parliamentary constituencies are included in the London plan:

Barking, Battersea, Beckenham, Bethnal Green and Bow, Bexleyheath and Crayford, Brent East, Brent North, Brent South, Brentford and Isleworth, Bromley and Chislehurst, Camberwell and Peckham, Carshalton and Wallington, Chingford and Woodford Green, Chipping Barnet, Cities of London and Westminster, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Dagenham, Dulwich and West Norwood, Ealing Acton and Shepherd’s Bush, Ealing North, Ealing Southall, East Ham, Edmonton, Eltham, Enfield North, Enfield Southgate, Erith and Thamesmead, Feltham and Heston, Finchley and Golders Green, Greenwich and Woolwich, Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Hackney South and Shoreditch, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hampstead and Highgate, Harrow East, Harrow West, Hayes and Harlington, Hendon, Holborn and St Pancras, Hornchurch, Hornsey and Wood Green, Ilford North, Ilford South, Islington North, Islington South and Finsbury, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston and Surbiton, Lewisham Deptford, Lewisham East, Lewisham West, Leyton and Wanstead, Mitcham and Morden, North Southwark and Bermondsey, Old Bexley and Sidcup, Orpington, Poplar and Canning Town, Putney, Regent’s Park and Kensington North, Richmond Park, Romford, Ruislip-Northwood, Streatham, Sutton and Cheam, Tooting, Tottenham, Twickenham, Upminster, Uxbridge, Vauxhall, Walthamstow, West Ham, Wimbledon

The Government criteria:

Nationally:

• 99% of the UK population to be within 3 miles and 90% of the population to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office® branch.

• 99% of the total population in deprived urban areas across the UK to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office® branch.

• 95% of the total urban population across the UK to be within 1 mile of their nearest Post Office® branch.

• 95% of the total rural population across the UK to be within 3 miles of their nearest Post Office® branch.


In addition, for each individual postcode district:

• 95% of the population of the postcode district to be within 6 miles of their nearest Post Office® branch.

The following 155 Post Office® branches will close as part of the London Plan

Abbeville Road, 34 Abbeville Road, Clapham, London, SW4 9NG
Acre Lane, 154 Acre Lane, Brixton, London, SW2 5UT
Albemarle Road, 40 High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1AY
Alexandra Park Road, 100 Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill, London, N10 2AE
Askew Road, 68 Askew Road, London, W12 9BJ
Balham High Road, 258 Balham High Road, London, SW17 7AW
Barking Road, 524 Barking Road, Plaistow, London, E13 8QE
Bath Road, 382 Bath Road, West Drayton, UB7 0DH
Battersea Park Road, 268 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 3BP
Bennetts Castle Lane, 238 Bennetts Castle Lane, Dagenham, RM8 3UU
Bensham Lane, 104 Bensham Lane, Thornton Heath, CR7 7ES
Bishopsford Road, 3 Hillfield Parade, Bishopsford Road, Morden, SM4 6BG
Blackheath Hill, 11 Blackheath Hill, London, SE10 8PB
Blackstock Road, 149 Blackstock Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2JS
Boileau Parade, 2 Boileau Parade, Boileau Road, London, W5 3AQ
Bostal Hill, 43 Bostal Hill, London, SE2 0RB
Brampton Road, 301-303 Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 5QR
Brentfield Estate, Willesden, London, NW10 0PX
Broad Street, 87 Broad Street, Dagenham, RM10 9HP
Broad Street, 30 Broad Street, Teddington, TW11 8RF
Buckingham Road, 80 Chandos Crescent, Edgware, HA8 6HL
Burlington Road, 82 Burlington Road, New Malden, KT3 4NU
Caledonian Road, 100 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DN
Caledonian Road, 492 Caledonian Road, London, N7 9RP
Camborne Avenue, 1 Camborne Avenue, Romford, RM3 8RH
Cambridge Parade, 336 Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 2DU
Carlton Parade, 12-13 Carlton Parade, Orpington, BR6 0JB
Carshalton Road, 213 Carshalton Road, Carshalton,SM5 3PZ
Cassland Road, 142-144 Cassland Road, London, E9 5DA
Central Hill, 75 Central Hill, Norwood, London, SE19 1BS
Chase Side, 122A Chase Side, Enfield, EN2 0QN
Chatsworth Road, 1 Chatsworth Road, London, E5 0LH
Chestnut Grove,127 Richmond Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 5BX
Childs Hill, 366 Cricklewood Lane, Childs Hill, London, NW2 2QJ
Chipstead Valley Road, 217 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon, CR5 3BR
Chiswick High Road, 110 Chiswick High Road,London, W4 1PU
Churchfield Road, 24 Churchfield Road, London, W3 6EG
Clapham High Street, 16 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UT
Coombe Lane, West Wimbledon, London, SW20 0RJ
Court Parade, 5 Court Parade, East Lane,Wembley, HA0 3HY
Coventry Parade, 299 Hall Lane,London, E4 8NU
Cranford Parade, 153 North Hyde Road, Hayes, UB3 4NS
Cricklewood, 67 Walm Lane, London,NW2 4QR
Crofton Lane, 86 Crofton Lane, Orpington,BR5 1HD
Crowndale Road, 18 - 22 Crowndale Road, London,NW1 1TT
Devons Road, 159 Devons Road, London, E3 3QX
Dockhead, 31 Dockhead,London,SE1 2BS
Dollis Valley, 39-40 Dollis Valley Way,Barnet, EN5 2UJ
East Finchley, 121 East End Road, London, N2 0SZ
East Street, 221 East Street, Walworth, London,SE17 2SS
Emerson Park, 2 Berther Road,Hornchurch,RM11 3HS
Englands Lane, 28 Englands Lane, Hampstead, London,NW3 4UE
Fencepiece Road, 158 Fencepiece Road, Ilford, IG6 2LB
Ferme Park Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 4ED
Field Road, 66 Field Road, Forest Gate, London,E7 9DL
Foots Cray, 3 Hollytree Parade, Sidcup Hill, Sidcup,DA14 6JR
Freezywater, 775 Hertford Road, Enfield, EN3 6SE
Fulham Road, 780 Fulham Road, London, SW6 5SL
Gander Green Lane, 143 Gander Green Lane, Sutton, SM1 2EZ
Garratt Lane, 179 Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4DP
Gobions, 37 Gobions Avenue, Romford, RM5 3SS
Goldhawk Road, 88 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 8HD
Green Lane, 129-131 Green Lane, Morden, SM4 6SE
Green Street, 200 Green Street, Enfield, EN3 7NB
Greenford Green, 1238 Greenford Road, Greenford, UB6 0HH
Grove Green Road, 374 Grove Green Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 4AP
Hadley Wood, 26 Crescent West, Barnet, EN4 0EJ
Hainault, 194 New North Road, Ilford, IG6 3BD
Hampstead Heath, 65 South End Road, Hampstead Heath, London, NW3 2QB
Harrow Road, 272 Harrow Road, London, W2 5ES
Harrow Road, Willesden, London, NW10 5NT
Haven Green, Adjoining 2 Madeley Road, Haven Green, Ealing, London, W5 2LH
Headstone Gardens, 3 The Quadrant, Headstone Gardens, Harrow, HA2 6PN
Headstone Road, 119 Headstone Road, Harrow, HA1 1PG
Heylyn Square, 71 Heylyn Square, Bow, London, E3 2DW
High Road, North Finchley, London, N12 0AP
High Street, 26 High Street, Northwood, HA6 1BN
High Street, 298 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1NG
High Street Eltham, 263 Eltham High Street, London, SE9 1TY
High Street Plaistow, 115 High Street, Plaistow, London, E13 0AD
Highgate High Street, 7 Highgate High Street, London, N6 5JR
Hither Green Lane, 116 Hither Green Lane, Lewisham, London, SE13 6QA
Hook Rise, 311 Hook Rise South, Surbiton, KT6 7LS
Hylands, 154 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, RM11 1QH
Ickenham Road, 4 Station Parade, Ruislip, HA4 7DL
Ilderton Road, 1c Ilderton Road, South Bermondsey, London, SE16 3JU
Katherine Road, 241 Katherine Road, Forest Gate, London, E7 8PP
Ladbroke Grove, 2 Ladbroke Grove, London, W11 3BG
Lee Nr Station, 11 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, London, SE12 0AA
Leinster Terrace (Temporarily close), 31 Leinster Terrace, London, W2 3ET
Leyton Green, 674 High Road, Leyton, London, E10 6JP
Lisson Grove, 37 Lisson Grove, London, NW1 6UB
Lower Clapton Road, 235 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 8EG
Lower Richmond Road, 209 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London, SW15 1HJ
Maddock Way, 1 Maddock Way, Walworth, London, SE17 3NH
Meads Lane, 100 Mead Lane, Ilford, IG3 8QN
Melbourne Grove, 7 Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8RG
Mitcham Junction, 7-9 Seymour Road, Mitcham, CR4 4JX
Mitcham Lane, 274 Mitcham Lane, London, SW16 6NU
Moorfield Road, Moorfield Road, Cowley, Uxbridge, UB8 3SH
Murray Grove, 96-97 Murray Grove, London, N1 7QP
Nether Street, Nether Street, Finchley, London, N3 1NT
New Covent Garden, New Covent Garden Market, Nine Elms Lane, Westbridge, London, SW8 5HB
New Cross Road, 405 New Cross Road, London, SE14 6LA
Norbiton Common, 240 Kingston Road, New Malden, KT3 3RN
Norwood Green, 175 Norwood Road, Southall, UB2 4JD
Nunhead Nr Station, 6 Gibbon Road, London, SE15 2AS
Old Isleworth, 4 South Street, Isleworth, TW7 7BG
Old Kent Road, 654 Old Kent Road, London, SE15 1JF
Palmers Green, 6 Clock House Parade, Palmers Green, London, N13 6BG
Park Avenue, 135 Whitton Road, Hounslow, TW3 2EL
Park Parade, 6 Park Parade, Gunnersbury Avenue, London, W3 9BD
Peckham Road, 46 Peckham Road, London, SE5 8PX
Pennine Parade, Cricklewood, London, NW2 1NT
Pinner Green, 5 Pinner Green, Pinner, HA5 2AF
Plough Green, 380 Malden Road, Worcester Park, KT4 7NL
Plumstead Common Road, 119 Plumstead Common Road, London, SE18 2UQ
Portway, 80 Portway, Stratford, London, E15 3QJ
Potters Road, 12 Potters Road, New Barnet, Barnet, EN5 5HW
Pratts Bottom, 9 Charmwood Villas, Rushmore Hill, Pratts Bottom, Orpingtom BR6 7NJ
Putney Bridge Road, 279 Putney Bridge Road, London, SW15 2PT
Roe Green, Kingsbury, London, NW9 9AG
Romford Road, 710 Romford Road, Manor Park, London, E12 6BT
Salisbury Road, Wood Green, London, N22 6NL
Selhurst Road, 22 Selhurst Road, South Norwood, London, SE25 5QF
Sherwood Park Road, 71 Sherwood Park Road, Mitcham, CR4 1NB
South Streatham, 7 Hermitage Lane, London, SW16 3LH
Stoke Newington Road, 133-135 Stoke Newington Road, London, N16 8BT
Stonebridge Park, Unit 4, Stonebridge Shopping Centre, Stonebridge Park, Wilesden, NW10 8LB
Stratford Road, 11 Stratford Road, London, W8 6RF
Streatham Place (Temporarily closed), 47 Streatham Place, Brixton, London, SW2 4QG
Surbiton Park, 62 Surbiton Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 2HT
The Avenue, 22 The Avenue, London, W13 8PH
The Common, 38a Staines Road, Twickenham, TW2 5AH
The Hill, 82 High Street, Harrow, HA1 3LW
The Parade, 2 The Parade, Mitcham Road, Croydon, CR0 3HL
The Quarterdeck, 3 The Quaterdeck, Millwall, London, E14 8SH
Town Road, 242 Town Road, London, N9 0EX
Trinity Road, 318 Trinity Road, London, SW18 3RG
Uxbridge Common, 101 Park Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1NW
Uxbridge Road, 1086 Uxbridge Road, Hayes, UB4 0RJ
Walden Road, 4 Walden Parade, Walden Road, Chislehurst, BR7 5DW
Watford Way, 272 Watford Way, Hendon, London, NW4 4UP
Watney Street, 81 Watney Street, London, E1 2QE
West Green Road, 434 West Green Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 3PT
Weston Park, 89 Weston Park, Hornsey, London, N8 9PR
Whitechapel, Unit 3, 75 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1DU
Wilton Way, 67 Wilton Way, London, E8 1BG
Wimbledon High Street, 16 Wimbledon High Street, Wimbledon Village, London, SW19 5DX
Woodford Avenue, 8 Spurway Parade, Woodford Avenue, Ilford, IG2 6UU
Woodford Near Church, 213 High Road, South Woodford, London, E18 2PB
Woodhall Parade, 79 Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 3AT
Woodside Parade, 10 Leopold Road, Wimbledon, London, SW19 7BD
Woolwich Road, 8 Woolwich Road, London, SE10 0JU
Wrythe Lane, 131 Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, SM5 2RU

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