Do the Post Office bosses, apart from giving themselves huge pay packets, really want to destroy the service and prevent people using post offices?

The proposed closure of four offices in Brighton will make it more difficult for the frail, disabled and elderly to get to one. Most of us regard our local post office as a public service and value it as part of our neighbourhood. Any closure will put greater pressure on existing post offices.

Already, Ship Street with its dedicated staff has been replaced by an office in the basement of WH Smith's where in cramped conditions customers are herded like sheep into long queues. The service is clearly inadequate and everyone has to wait in line for a long time.

With Christmas coming this can only get worse.

Francis Tonks
member, Brighton and Hove Older
People's Council THERE has been a lot of comment in the press about the closure of post offices in Wealden, especially the one at Upper Dicker. This office is contained in the Village Shop in Coldharbour Road and run by Tess Flower. Its closure could threaten the entire business.

The Post Office does not appear to have taken into consideration the up-to-date operations at the Village Shop. They have ignored the 1,000 or so pupils at the nearby St Bede's School, a large number of whom are boarders and use the local post office, and the number of local businesses who also utilise the store's services.

The Post Office believes that pensioners and customers can use two post offices which are more than two miles from Upper Dicker, with no public transport to either of them.

Without a car it is difficult to see how customers can visit these offices.

More than 4,000 post offices have already been closed under this Government, often because of the withdrawal of Government business.

It is essential that pressure is maintained on the Post Office to reconsider its plans. Their offer of outreach service points will do nothing to aid the users of Upper Dicker Post Office.

Charles Hendry, the Wealden MP and Shadow Minister for Postal Affairs, is opposed to these closures, as is David Cameron who has made it one of his vital points of policy.

But this is not about politics. It is about services to the people. It is essential that everyone expresses their opposition to these cuts and especially to the closure of the Upper Dicker Post Office.

Please sign the petition instigated by Lewes MP Norman Baker (just pop in to the Village Store) or write expressing your views.

Phil Beck
vice-chairman,
Hellingly Conservative Association
Harebeating Crescent, Hailsham IN HER letter sympathising with people affected by the post office closures, Lesley Kite suggests we should use post office services more (Letters, November 16). This may help but we must always remember that some services such as television licences, have been taken away from or discarded by the Post Office.

The Post Office management has therefore contributed to the demise of local branches, with all the social consequences that will bring. What amazes me about the current adverts is not the use of celebrities, which is a smart move, but, in view of the thousands of forthcoming closures, they have the gall to call it "the people's post office".

John O'Riley
Kings Drive, Hassocks THE Government has set the Post Office targets for closures, and Denton, South Heighton and Mount Pleasant is an area that looks likely to be affected. However, it is worth fighting to keep our local post office open. At the moment this is only a "proposed closure" and there is a public consultation.

There are many reasons to make Mount Pleasant Post Office stand out from other post offices similarly threatened. These include accessibility, and the effect on local businesses, including home-run ones, and the Avis Parade shops.

It is worth writing personal letters as some post offices will be saved.

There is more information at meetings of local groups and from any shop in Avis Parade.

Jan Marshall
Arundel Road, Mount Pleasant THANKS to all those supporting the campaign launched by Nancy Platts and me opposing the Brighton Pavilion Post Office closures (The Argus, November 13). To make sure your views are included in the consultation, it is important to send objections about the closure of individual branches to: Gary Herbert
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
c/o National Consultation Team
Freepost Consultation Teamor to: consultation@postoffice.co.ukIt is a good idea to copy your letter
to the Consumer Council for Postal
Services by sending it to:The Chair
Postwatch
28 Grosvenor Gardens
London
SW1W 0TT Postwatch can express a view in some cases. If you live in my constituency please send me a copy of the letter as well.

  • David Lepper, Labour and Co-operative MP for Brighton Pavilion