Pensioner power aims to force U-turn on Post Office closures

Jul 17 2008 By Kat Keogh

PENSIONERS packed out a community centre for a crisis meeting on Birmingham’s Post Office closures.

More than 100 customers gathered at Quinton Community Centre to question Post Office Ltd’s plans to close 26 branches across the city.

The audience grilled Post Office Ltd’s Sue Dakin and Mark Wilde on the decision to bring the shutters down at Genners Lane, Bartley Green, Court Oak Road, in Edgbaston, and Selsey Road, Harborne.

Genners Lane postmistress Kamaljit Gill, who has collected more than 1,000 signatures for the Birmingham Mail’s Think Again on Post Office Closures campaign, said her customers were right behind her.

“We’ve had half a dozen cars going back and forth tonight to bring 50 customers here because they feel so strongly about losing their Post Office.

“The Post Office keeps saying that customers will be able to go to their nearest branch, but so many of them have told me that if we close they’ll just go to a bank instead.”

Mrs Gill said the true value of her branch had been overlooked.

“It is a job, but it is more than that to us.

“I had one of my customers in tears – it’s really starting to affect them.”

Coun Deirdre Alden, who chairs Edgbaston Constituency Committee, said people should get involved in the consultation.

“Come August 5, it’ll be too late.”

John Verspeak, of postal services watchdog Postwatch, said: “I don’t want to raise expectations too high, but where new and appropriate facts have been brought to light, it can change things.”

More than 6,000 readers have signed the Mail petition calling for consultation on an individual area basis.