The Great Post Office Consultation Sham: Five Shepway Post Offices to Close
Fifty-six post office branches are to close across Kent with the first ones winding up in the New Year. The 56 offices include all FIVE in Shepway that had been included - despite huge public outcry and even an offer by one Post office in Enbrook Valley to PAY continue to operate its Post Office!
The announcement by Post Office Ltd follows public consultation under which 58 branches were earmarked for closure. Two branches, in Ramsgate and Hawkhurst, won a reprieve because of issues including transport and access. But two more branches were added to the list for closure, with consultation starting on Tuesday. They are Lane End in Dartford and Goodnestone.
Lib Dem Campaigner Neil Mathhews, who took part in a protest march from Saltwood Post office to Hythe about the proposed closure, labelled the consultation process a sham. He said:
"It's entirely clear that almost no argument was going to be listened to by the Post Office - the consultation was a sham.
"There was a post strike disrupting the consultation period, but they wouldn't extend the consultation period.
"There have been marches of hundreds of people and many responses to their 'consultation', but they never mention the marches, and haven't published any of the responses.
"There was even an offer from Enbrook Valley Post Office to pay a licence fee each year to stay open, but amazingly, the Post Office don't even refer to that offer in their decision booklet!
"Over the last 8 years Folkestone and Hythe has already lost 10 Post Offices, and this makes it 15. From 35 Post Offices in the area 1999, we'll be down to just 20 - only just more than half.
"The consultation and the decision are a disgrace."
The 5 Shepway branches now facing closure are:
- Enbrook Valley, 99 Enbrook Valley, Eynsford, Folkestone
- Littlestone, 4 Warren Road, New Romney
- Saltwood, The Fountain Stores, Saltwood, Hythe
- Seabrook Road, 246 Seabrook Road, Hythe
- Shorncliffe, 2 Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone
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