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Campaigners outside the Albany Street post office |
Pensioners turn protesters to save estate post office
Closure looms in row over insistence that counters open six days a week
PENSIONERS fear they will struggle to collect pensions and pay rent if a popular post office in Regent’s Park shuts.
The office in Albany Street serves about 6,000 people living on the Regent’s Park estate.
But the two busy counters inside a local pharmacy are threatened with closure on May 23 following a contractual dispute over opening hours between the Post Office and the chemist who runs the service.
Pensioner June Thomas, 76, said: “We need the post office to pay our rent and tax and collect our pension. We are not the sort of people who can pay things on computers. Many of us can’t get on buses. We will have to go to Camden High Street, which is already incredibly busy.”
For another pensioner, Irene Fage, 88, her trip to the post office is the only time she goes out each week. “It’s the only time I get to see other people really,” she said. “I wouldn’t be able to make it to Camden Town. I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Pat Poole, 68, added: “All we are interested in is keeping our post office open.”
Vimal Shah, who has a contract to run the post office from his Albany Street Pharmacy six days a week, has been forced to shut at the weekend after running up heavy losses. He said: “I am losing money – around £12,000 last year. If it goes on I will have to close both the pharmacy and the post office. All I want to do is open five days a week. That is what everyone wants, but the Post Office won’t change my contract.”
Residents protesting outside the pharmacy on Tuesday say they are happy for the post office to open during the week only. But the Post Office maintains that, as the outlet is in a densely populated area, it must open at least six days a week. Mr Shah has been warned he is in breach of his contract, due to be terminated on May 22.
Regent’s Park ward Labour councillor Theo Blackwell said: “The Post Office is being really inflexible here. Surely, it is better to have it open five days a week than none at all? I have asked the council to investigate whether Camden High Street can take the extra 6,000. I don’t think it can. There are already people queuing in the rain to get in there.”
A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We understand that customers around Regent’s Park will be concerned about the future of post office services in their area. The provision of a post office branch in the community is important to us, and we will continue to work hard to restore a facility in the area as soon as possible. Unfortunately, our efforts have so far failed.”
She added: “I would urge any potential partners interested in running the post office service to come forward.” |
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