Blythe Road Post Office should be re-opened
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
04/03/2008
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is challenging Post Office Ltd to re-open its Blythe Road branch after the sneaky closure of the counters inside the Costcutter on the corner of Hammersmith Road and North End Road.
The Olympia branch, inside the small supermarket, struggled on gamely in the empty shop after the Costcutter closed before Christmas. The Post Office has told residents that it is only a temporary closure despite it being available for rent, according to a sign on the door.
The move follows the Post Office’s consultation on axing six other branches across the borough. The council is challenging these closures at the highest level and as well as calling for the re-opening of Blythe Road, has organised a public protest meeting for Wednesday 19 March.
“Something doesn’t add up with the Costcutter closure,” say Cllr Paul Bristow, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services. “Having learned of this seventh, secretive, closure we are calling on the Post Office to stand by their promise to residents and keep an office in the Olympia area. The Post Office has a duty to provide a service in the W14 area and we are demanding that they re-open the Olympia branch in Blythe Road as soon as possible.”
The news of Costcutter’s demise is particularly damaging to the Post Office as, as well as wanting to close braches across the borough, historically they have also tried to relocate successful branches into smaller franchises to slash overheads. It is believed that the Blythe Road branch, which closed about three years ago to move into the Costcutter on Hammersmith Road, is lying dormant.
Cllr Bristow continues, “When the Olympia branch moved to Costcutter we were told this was the future of the network. Well, it’s a pretty grim future. There is a perfectly useable office in Blythe Road and now that Costcutter has shut the Post Office should do the honourable thing and re-open the Olympia branch there.”
All residents affected by the Post Office closures are invited to the council’s protest meeting at 7.00pm in Hammersmith Town Hall on Wednesday 19 March. If you are interested in attending the meeting please call Nikki Hambry on 020 8753 1579 or email nikki.hambry@lbhf.gov.uk. You can also have your say by clicking on www.lbhf.gov.uk/postofficeclosures. The council has also organised a petition which, in addition to being available to sign at your local library, will also be at the public meeting.
