Lib Dems respond to Post Office consultation

Liberal Democrats across Epping Forest have been collecting signatures against Post Office closures and writing to letters in support of Post Offices in the district.

This is the letter Councillor Janet Whitehouse sent:

Allnutts Post Office is in my ward and its closure will cause real hardship to many of the residents. Close to the post office, in Stewards Green Road, is one of the district council's group areas of older peoples bungalows. The Orchards consists of privately owned bungalows which are primarily lived in by older people. I know from door knocking at election time that there are many other older people in the roads from Allnutts to Epping station. They use Allnutts Post Office to avoid the need to climb the hill to the High Street and because of the helpfulness of Mrs Javid.

It is stated in your leaflet 'Proposed branch closures' that the alternative post offices to Allnutts are Epping High Street or Theydon Bois and information on transport and access is given. The reality is not as described in the leaflet.

The Epping branch is said to have parking outside the door and space for a wheelchair inside. It is true that parking spaces are marked outside the Post Office but they are rarely available. Inside, the Post Office is at the far end of Martins newsagents shop and it is congested to walk through the narrow aisles especially when customers are looking at goods. It would be very difficult for someone in a wheelchair. There has always been a queue when I have used that Post Office and, if Lindsey Street and Allnutts customers have to use it too the queue will tail back into the shop area more than at present. I doubt that Martins will be very happy to have that obstruction to their customers accessing things they want to buy.

I have been told that residents from various parts of Epping drive, or are driven, to Allnutts or Lindsey St Post Offices in preference to the High Street branch because of the parking difficulties there. This especially applies to older people with mobility difficulties who want to park near the Post Office.

The Theydon Bois branch is also given as an alternative to the Allnutts branch. It is very unlikely that residents from this area would go there. The regular bus service that is mentioned is hourly and goes from Epping station which would be too far for older residents at the bottom of the hill to walk. There is no direct bus service to the Epping High Street branch either. The bus stop is a considerable way from the Post Office.

As you are probably aware the Allnutts Post Office is situated in the only shop for the community which lives in that part of Epping at the bottom of the hill. If the Post Office closes the viability of the shop will be at risk. On paper it may seem that 1.1 miles isn't that far to go to another Post Office but Epping High Street is built on the ridge of a hill and the climb from Allnutts Road is long and very steep. I have mentioned the difficulties for older people but a mother of three young children also told me of the difficulties she would face if the shop and post office at Allnutts closed.

I have read in one of the briefing documents about post office closures about the outreach services that may be provided if a post office is closed. One of these is a host service and it is said that one of the hosts could be a shop. I am wondering what the difference is between a host service and the service that is currently being offered by Mrs Javid. Would a host service provide access for equal hours to the residents and a comparable income to Mrs Javid?

I know you are getting letters and petitions from the residents who use Allnutts Post Office. Many are going via the local paper and MP. I trust you will give real consideration to the reasons that they and I have given for Allnutts Post Office to be removed from the list of those which are to be closed.