Another sub-post office facing closure

The Navarino sub-post office in Ham Road, East Worthing, is the latest in the area to be suggested for closure.

So far, Broadwater and Goring have lost post offices and consultation for the closure of the South Farm Road branch ends on Wednesday.

The Post Office says it is necessary to make closures so the company can last into the future and it is currently holding public consultations to decide whether to add the Ham Road office to the list.

Drew McBride, from the Post Office, said: "We know no one likes to lose the branch on their doorstep and having too many close together is damaging the prospects of all of them.

"We have to take difficult decisions and action now if we are to create a viable network for the future."

A notice detailing the proposals is on display at the post office and it lists alternative offices for customers should the decision to close be taken.

Barry Mitchell, of Brighton Road, East Worthing, has already written a letter to voice his objections to the possible closure.

In it he said: "To list nearby alternatives as you have thoughtfully done is to miss the fact that I, like many others, use the car for convenience and will stop at my local post office (with its excellent staff and abundance of free parking places) on the way to somewhere else.

"A journey out of my way means more petrol, more pollution, and more statistical chance of running someone over. This effect will be multiplied all over the country and that is without even mentioning the inconvenience to non car-owning pensioners with, as you have carefully measured, an extra 0.4miles to walk each way (come rain or shine).

"For the disabled driver, the alternative is a much greater distance, with additional accumulative environmental considerations: petrol, pollution, accidents, etc."

Consultations for Navarino post office run until December 2. Write to National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW, with your comments.