Protesters set to pack out Chamber for Post Office meeting

Jul 10 2008 By Kat Keogh

WORRIED customers and post office workers are expected to pack out the Birmingham Mail’s Post Office closures protest meeting.

The meeting, which will be held on Monday lunchtime at Birmingham’s Council House Chamber, will give people the chance to meet the Post Office boss who has earmarked 26 city branches for closure.

The free meeting comes after more than 4,500 angry Mail readers signed petition forms denouncing closure plans.

Postmistress Sinder Dhaliwal, of the Bakers Lane branch in Sutton Coldfield, pledged her support for the meeting.

Mrs Dhaliwal, who has run the branch and adjoining shop with her business partner for the last year, said she wants to know why her profitable business may have to close. She said: “I’m hoping the meeting will make everyone aware of the importance of having post offices here and open for the community and for local business users.

“Every week we get newsletters saying how well we are doing but we still may have to close.”

The meeting will feature a panel of experts including Post Office network development boss Mark Partington, who has drawn up the scheme to bring the shutters down on 56 post offices across the West Midlands.

Mail editor Steve Dyson will chair the debate and speakers already confirmed include Najma Hafeez from postal services watchdog Postwatch and Birmingham historian and Mail columnist Carl Chinn.

Colin Frankham, who lives next door to the Bakers Lane branch, was one of 30 protesters who campaigned outside the post office against the cuts.

The 70-year-old said: “I want someone to explain to me why there is a need for closures because it is no good just talking about saving money.”

Mail editor Steve Dyson said: “This meeting will give everyone who is concerned over what is planned the chance to put questions and hopefully get answers.We hope to fill the council chamber on Monday and people will be admitted on a first come, first served basis.”

The council chamber can hold up to 200 people and doors will open at 1pm for 1.30pm start.

Stewards will be on hand at the main council chamber entrance at Victoria Square, to direct people. The debate will finish at 3pm.

* If you have a question to put to our panel of experts, contact reporter Jasbir Authi on 0121 303 5235, write to

* Birmingham Mail

* , Freepost 258, Birmingham B5 6BR or e-mail newsdesk@birminghammail.net.