MP demands assurance on New Malden Post Office closure

18.2.05

“No more post office closures,” was the message given by Kingston and Surbiton’s MP, Edward Davey, at a recent Commons meeting with the Chief Operating Officer of Post Office Ltd. Following national press reports on plans to close “directly managed offices”. the Liberal Democrat MP specifically demanded assurances that the New Malden Post Office on the High Street would not face the axe, and asked the Post Office to provide a written assurance to that effect within the next few weeks.

MP Edward Davey raised the stakes, after the Post Office’s Network Reinvention Program has seen 6 offices close across the constituency in recent years. Having fought fierce battles to save the offices, the Kingston and Surbiton MP believes the campaign now has to be taken to the Post Office before they produce their proposals.

Commenting after the Commons meeting, MP Edward Davey said:

“These senior Post Office managers told me there would be no more closures of local sub-post offices. Yet I’ve demanded the assurances in writing, otherwise it’s just more warm words. People are fed up of these closures, and we want to know there will be no more.

“As for New Malden’s directly-managed branch, it seems unlikely this will close. However, I’ve again asked for written promises because closing this branch would be the last straw.

“My main concern for New Malden’s high street post office is whether or not they will decide to franchise the branch out. It’s clear that senior Post Office managers want to flog off as many of these branches to private operators.

“Franchising New Malden’s Post Office may help save them money, but if we see service levels drop for customers – as we have in other franchised branches like Surbiton – that will simply not be acceptable. New Malden post office is well-located, with good disabled access and I’m convinced local people want to keep it where it is.

“If the Post Office won’t provide these written assurances, we will have to mobilise local people yet again.”