HUGE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO SAVE SYDENHAM CROWN POST OFFICE
Hundreds sign petition in a couple of hours
IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS OVER 300 PEOPLE SIGNED A PETITION TO SAVE SYDENHAM CROWN POST OFFICE FROM CLOSURE ON SATURDAY
“The response was amazing” said Sydenham councillor Liam Curran, Chair of Lewisham Council’s Sustainable Development Committee that unanimously voted to oppose closure or downgrading recently.
Labour councillors, party members and members of the Communication Workers’ Union, that represents Post Office workers, organized the petition.
“There is a growing sense of anger against the loss or deterioration of public services. I have on many occasions campaigned at the street stall in Sydenham for the past 30 years and can’t remember when so many people queued up to sign a petition so willingly” he added.
Lewisham Council is opposed to the closure or downgrading of Crown Post Offices and their possible replacements with inferior franchising arrangements with the Post Office being run as a sideline to a shop.
“We would be in for longer queues, poorer services and lower-paid staff” said Cllr Curran. “The Post Office is a state-owned company and can be run along more commercially successful lines like its contemporaries in Europe.”
Mole Meade of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said: “The residents in Sydenham came out in force to defend Sydenham Crown Post Office, from either being closed or downgraded”. “Post Office Limited are completely out of step with, political opinion, both national and local, the people they employ. But most importantly their customers.”
Ian Ward of the CWU went onto say “the customers in Sydenham are no different from any other part of country who also do not want the closure or downgrading of their Crown Post Office either. As unfortunately many others in the London borough of Lewisham have experienced to their detriment already.”
Lewisham Council’s Business Panel endorsed the Sustainable Development Committee’s recommendations. Business Panel Chair, Councillor Alan Hall said: “It is time to bring the campaigns to Save New Cross Gate and Sydenham Post Offices together. Thousands of people have signed the petitions and support their crown post office in Lewisham borough.
“If people want to keep quality public services and retain a full range of crown post office services they should contact their local MP, local councillors, the Minister responsible Margot James MP and the Chief Executive of the Post Office Paula Vennells.”
A short video made on Saturday 18th March is here:
The report to Lewisham Council’s Business Panel and Sustainable Development Committees can be read here
Please sign the online petition to save New Cross Gate & Sydenham Crown Post Offices here
The event went really well over 300 signatures in a couple of hours, and several councillors turned up to show their complete opposition and support. With members of the public being outraged by the thought of their Crown Post Office either being downgraded or closed.
Mole Meade of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said: “The residents in Sydenham came out in force to defend Sydenham Crown Post Office, from either being closed or downgraded”. “Post Office Limited are completely out of step with, political opinion, both national and local, the people they employ. But most importantly their customers”.
Ian Ward of the CWU went onto say “the customers in Sydenham are no different from any other part of country who also do not want the closure or downgrading of their Crown Post Office either. As unfortunately many others in the London borough of Lewisham have experienced to their detriment already”.
Thanks Mole and Ian, the struggle continues.