After months of speculation it has been announced that the Station Road East Post Office has been earmarked for closure, subject to a six week public consultation, as part of the Government’s policy to close 2,500 post offices across the country.
The Government have opened Royal Mail up to much greater competition whilst denying them the freedom they need to compete effectively by limiting the products and services they provide.
The Station Road East post office is a long-established business and its closure would have a detrimental effect on the trading environment of town.
Peter said: “Post Offices are a vital part of the social and economic fabric of our local communities. When a Post Office is forced to close, everyone is affected. People will be forced travel further to get to their local post office, and have to wait in longer queues when they get there. These extra distances will be a burden for all of us, but will notably inconvenience the elderly and the disabled.”
He went on to say:
“Oxted is a town of two halves, with the railway creating a natural division. As the crow flies, the post office on Station Road West seems deceptively close, but this simply isn’t the case in reality. Besides, it is hard to see how it could cope with the extra work without long queues.
“I urge all local residents to participate fully in the public consultation, and to sign the petition on my website. I have also placed a Post Office survey in my latest ‘Westminster Report’ which all constituents should receive shortly. The more responses I receive the stronger we can make this campaign!”
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