Petition to save final post office in Lewisham
A borough’s final crown post office is under threat.
Sydenham Post Office is the last crown post office in Lewisham following the closure of the New Cross post office last week.
A petition has been set up by Cllr Alan Hall to save the post office as a consultation is under way to determine whether it can be moved from its site on Sydenham Road.
Cllr Hall, chairman of Lewisham council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “With Sydenham crown post office under threat this means there could be no crown post offices within the London Borough of Lewisham – and the loss of a full range of services for our residents. The Post Office should think again.”
On Saturday, February 10 residents and campaigners held a ‘Valentine’s Day Massacre’ mourning demonstration outside New Cross Gate crown post office, pictured above.
They dressed up in dark clothes and visited the site in New Cross Road to mark the end of the crown post office.
A spokesman from the Communications Workers’ Union said the union opposes the closure of crown post offices and that this will have a negative economic and social effects on high streets.
A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We’re committed to keeping our branches on high streets and at the heart of communities. To do so we must ensure their sustainability into the future. The vast majority of our 11,500 post offices, both large and small, are operated on a franchise or agency basis alongside retailers – it’s been a successful model for decades.
“Like other businesses, the Post Office operates in fiercely competitive markets and has to respond to fast-changing consumer and high street trends, such as customers’ needs for longer opening hours to fit with busy lives.”
To find the petition go to change.org and search Save Sydenham.
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It is absolutely scandalous that the Post Office is keen to close/downgrade the last Ctown Post Office. We ask Lewisham Council to intervene in this diabolical decision, and tell The Post Office that if they want to use their (council) premises in Sydenham then it must remain a Crown Post Office as the Community and the Trade Unions discussed with them over a year ago.