Post Office closure for "own convenience" (From Bucks Free Press)

Post Office closure for "own convenience"

4:48pm Wednesday 23rd July 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A PARISH council has accused the Post Office of saving a branch for its own convenience rather than what is good for the village.

Wooburn and Bourne End Parish Council believe both branches in Bourne End should be saved.

The post office in The Parade, in the centre of the village, is earmarked for closure but the branch in Furlong Road looks set to be retained.

The two branches offer similar services except Furlong Road accepts DVLA forms and has a sorting office.

In a letter to Post Office, the council said: "Post Office have chosen Furlong Road for it's own convenience, as it provides more services, and have not considered it's customers."

The council listed a number of reasons for keeping both branches open.

Councillors said that two thirds of the population of Bourne End are closer to the Parade post office than Furlong Road.

And that the Furlong Road branch would not be able to cope if The Parade office shut.

Cllr Margaret Marshall said: "Bourne End is an expanding population so there will be an increase in demand."

Furlong Road already has a parking problem and no disabled access to the branch.

Whereas The Parade post office has lots of public parking and numerous shops nearby.

Cllr Simon Bazley said: "The Parade is far more accessible to our whole parish and Little Marlow parish."

Councillors were concerned about the affect on the elderly and said their safety may be at risk as it is a longer walk from the village centre and there is no crossing near the Furlong Road branch.

Another post office is also set to close in the parish.

The branch in Wycombe Lane, Wooburn Green, is scheduled to shut.

Councillors said they fear for the future of the shop attached to the Wycombe Lane post office if the branch closed.