Post Offices Ltd chiefs attended Islington Town Hall today (1 July) after leading councillors summoned them for an urgent meeting over their plans to shut the popular Goswell Road branch.<br><br>Deputy Leader of Islington Council, Cllr Terry Stacy and Executive Member for Equalities, Cllr Ruth Polling, were seeking an explanation for Post Offices Ltd's shock announcement last week.<br><br>Many Islington residents rely on Post Office services as a lifeline, and the council and local community recently suceeded in fighting off Post Offices Ltd's plans to shut another branch at Essex Road. <br><br>Cllr Terry Stacy said: "Having talked to Post Offices Ltd today, this seems like a completely random, knee-jerk decision. As part of their national closure programme, they've decided not to close a branch in Walthamstow, so now they think they'll close another one of Islington's instead. It doesn't make sense.<br><br>"We don't think they've done nearly enough research into the area. Anyone who lives here could tell you its home to some of the most deprived people in London, many of whom rely on their local Post Office as a life line. <br><br>"By working together with local people, we've already successfully fought off their bid to close the Crown Post Office at Essex Road, and that campaign showed the strength of feeling about this service locally. On behalf of the local community, we at Islington Council fully intend to fight this latest threat to local services all the way." <br><br>Post Offices Ltd is now consulting local people on their plans to close Gowell Road, and the council is urging local people to oppose the closure by emailing consultation@postoffice.co.uk, or by writing to Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd@FREEPOST Consultation Team. The deadline for people to give their views is 20 August 2008. <br><br>Islington residents are already losing access to three Post Office branches - two in Caledonian Road and one in Blackstock Road. <br><br>Cllr Stacy said: "We're looking at constructive solutions around the three branches that have already closed in Islington. We've written to Hackney Council to discuss ways we can look at restoring some kind of service for people livng in Blackstock Road, and we are also meeting with councillors at Camden to talk about possible cross-borough solutions for Caledonian Road." <br><br>ENDS<br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009