Residents blast ‘ridiculous’ plans to close much-loved Post Office
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
Residents have hit out at plans to close their local Post Office – claiming the under-threat branch is always packed with customers.
Post Office intends to close its Clapham Common branch in Clapham High Street early next year so that the landlord can redevelop the building.
In the future customers will have to take a bus ride to Battersea, Balham or Brixton to reach their nearest Post Office shop. People visiting the branch on Friday said they couldn’t believe the much-loved store was at risk.
Lifelong Clapham resident Niamh Mulcahy, 33, branded the plans “ridiculous”. She said: “People who are elderly need it to deposit money. There are no banks here anymore. For people who have mobility issues, it’s not fair.
“It’s an essential shop. I often visit two or three times a week. Today I was returning a parcel. There needs to be a petition against it [the closure].”
Nick Brown, 51, said his nearest Post Office branch would be a 15-minute bus ride away in Brixton if the Clapham branch closed. He said: “It’s a really bad idea because there’s always a queue of people. I come here once a week. It’s terrible.”
Annabelle Windsor, 31, who visits the Clapham Common branch every week, said: “I’m really annoyed. There’s a queue here every single day. For older people, going to Brixton or Balham is not that easy.”
Dee Hays, 45, added: “It’s always busy when you go in there. You need it for the older people. The staff is lovely and they have been there for years. It’s sad.”
Post Office said it was hoping to open a till branch within a local shop if there was interest.
Existing Post Offices within two miles of Clapham Common are: Balham Hill Post Office, located next to Clapham South tube station, Cedars Post Office on Queenstown Road, Alfriston Road Post Office in Battersea and Balham Post Office.
Post Office said it had begun a six-week consultation on the planned closure. Members of the public can share their views on the proposals by going to postofficeviews.co.uk, entering the branch name ‘Clapham Common Post Office’ and answering a questionnaire.
Pictured top: Niamh Mulcahy outside Clapham Common’s Post Office (Picture: Robert Firth)
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