How have post office closures affected you?

A major study has been launched into the effect of the loss of the outlets on the lives of individuals and business owners. Its results will be used to produce a report on the economic, environmental and social impact of the absence of the branches.

The study is being carried out by the University of Chichester at the request of West Sussex County Council.

The council will look at the report's recommendations to see how it can support the affected areas.

A particular focus will be placed on Bognor which had a third of its Post Office network wiped out within two months in 2008.

Project manager Dr David Cooper said: "We are looking in detail at the impact of the closures on six specific areas within West Sussex. One of these is Bognor, which lost five Post Offices last year.

"We are specifically focusing on the impact on the community of the Station Road closure, though this inevitably takes into account all area closures.

Work already undertaken shows evidence closures are a major inconvenience, particularly to disadvantaged groups.

"There is also evidence in urban environments that businesses suffer too," continued Dr Cooper, a senior lecturer in information and management at the university's Bognor campus.

"Small businesses rely heavily on their local post office and '“ in Bognor, for instance '“ are now having to use the main office, often with long queues."

One business owner who has suffered is Stephanie Bayley. Her website company is based in Gordon Avenue and she was a frequent customer of the South Bersted Post Office at the end of the road.

She now has to travel to the main post office in the High Street or the branch in Durlston Drive. She once spent 35 minutes in a queue which stretched out of the door at Durlston Drive just to send a recorded delivery item.

"The situation with the post offices is now horrendous," she said. "I have to waste so much time in queues, driving to post offices and parking. It is so inconvenient and a real pain in the backside.

"I just used to nip up the road. Now, I have to plan ahead each time I want to go to the post office. It's costing me money to get there and is potentially losing me business because I am spending so much longer out of my office."

The study's initial stages has involved interviewing individuals for their views. Questionnaires will next be sent to people living in the affected areas.

Businesses will also be contacted for their views from next month. The questionnaire will also be available online.

Cllr Henry Smith, the county council's leader, said: "The report will enable us to see precisely the impact of the closures across the county.

"It will help us to target where we can get involved and try and find a way forward to help those communities affected by closures."

More details about the questionnaire are available from Jo Horwood at the university '“ 01243 816244 or email [email protected]

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