Gipsy Road Post Office closed by Government cuts
Despite a well-supported campaign by local shopkeepers and residents, Gipsy Road Post Office is being closed under a Government cuts policy. The closure is especially disappointing because at one stage it looked like the branch might have been reprieved. Also, it is profit-making, which makes the closure decision all the more bizarre.
The local Labour MP made great play of her support for the Post Office, but then voted against a Commons motion that would have kept the branch open. Indeed, she was and is a member of the Government that initiated the cuts programme.
A number of Labour ministers did the same thing – they campaigned to “save” their local Post Offices, but then effectively voted for closure in the Commons. In this way they signalled that their opposition was not serious, and thereby undermined local campaigns. Post Office chiefs are now pushing through with closures, secure in the knowledge that Labour ministers support them.
As a result, in Gipsy Hill, local pensioners and others will have to make their way up a steep hill, or across a busy junction and housing estate, to get to the remaining Post Offices.
These closures continue a trend of public sector closures in West and Upper Norwood. The Post Offices are to go, the police station is under threat, and Lunham Road Housing Office and West Norwood Housing Office have both been cut back. Rather than help the area, Labour-controlled Lambeth Council made matters worse by siting a dustcart depot on Vale Street.
Gipsy Hill Councillors and their colleagues are in urgent talks to see if the Council can support for local Post Offices, as councils have done elsewhere in the country.
Pictured: Graham and Andrew on Gipsy Road where they have supported the shopping parade – losing the Post Office would be a big blow
