Mark is aware of the groundswell of concern in Pimlico about the proposed closure of the Post Office’s Lupus Street branch and it is a concern he shares. Alongside Churchill councillors, he has been campaigning to keep the Post Office on that site. Below is the text from a letter he has sent to Royal Mail’s Chief Executive. Mark has also made representations to the Postal Minister.
A twelve week consultation on the closure is due to be launched shortly.
Re: Proposed closure of the Lupus Street Crown Post Office
I have been alerted to the proposed closure of the above named Post Office in my constituency.
I find your proposal to close the Lupus Street branch completely unacceptable as it will have a negative impact on a significant number of my most vulnerable constituents. I have been sympathetic to the cases made for previous Post Office closures, such as the Poland Street branch. However, this particular branch is in a relatively impoverished area of my constituency and serves several large housing estates where there is a significant number of elderly and at risk residents reliant on its services.
If the closure goes ahead, the nearest Post Office branch will either be on Vauxhall Bridge Road or Eccleston Street. Eccleston Street is outside Pimlico in Victoria, whilst Vauxhall Bridge Road acts as a natural local dividing line as it is effectively a six lane motorway and not pedestrian friendly. In central London such distances are far more pronounced and would be problematic for those with mobility issues.
I appreciate the Post Office is under financial pressure and has successfully managed to form commercial partnerships with local retailers, such as W H Smith & Ryman, to maintain service levels where Post Office branches have closed. Please would you clarify whether this option has been fully explored in Lupus Street.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. I look forward to hearing from you shortly.