Call for improved access at post office

An announcement is expected shortly on what Post Office Ltd’s plans are for the Lewes branch, which will be followed by a six-week consultation period.

“The Crown Post Office on the High Street is an important part of the social and economic life of Lewes,” said Philippa Thompson, campaign organiser and Chair of Lewes Constituency Labour Party. “The public consultation will be short and sharp and it will look only at how and when the decision to close the Crown Post Office will be implemented, not the decision itself.”

Campaigners and members of the public called on local councillors to reject the plans and to unite across all the political parties and independents to work together to stop the closure.

Speaking at the meeting Andy Furey, National Officer for the Communications Workers’ Union, which represents staff at the Crown Post Office, said: “I’m delighted the people of Lewes are fighting to keep their Post Office. The danger is they will lose a fabulous service for a second class service tucked away in the back of a shop.

“Retail franchise partners are only interested in the benefits to their primary business, not the range and quality of services offered in a Crown Post Office.”

Options presented at the meeting to co-locate post office services include in the library or to refurbish the old Turkish Baths building and former community print works in Friars Walk.

Philippa Thompson added: “Moving the post office from its High Street location will impact badly on shops and local businesses in the area, making it a ghost area just like Western Road has become since it lost its post office. A post office is part of the beating heart of a community and moving or losing ours would be a disaster for Lewes.

“I’d like to see town, district and county councillors working together to come up with viable plans to improve access to the current location. The addition of disabled parking spaces outside would help enormously.”

For more information, including details of the group’s newly-launched postcard campaign, visit the ‘Stop the closure of Lewes Crown Post Office’ Facebook page.

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