The Royal Borough is
stepping up its fight to save South Ascot post office in Brockenhurst Road
following the news earlier this month that five post offices across the
borough are to shut.
Council on Tuesday
passed a unanimous motion from Cllr Alison Knight, Sunninghill and South
Ascot ward councillor (and seconded by Cllr John Story), that the council
leader write to the managing director of Post Offices Ltd expressing the
council’s opposition to the proposed closure and demanding that the branch
be kept open.
The closure proposal
follows the decision by Post Offices Ltd to axe branches at Boyne Hill,
Cookham Road, Knowl Hill and Norfolk Park in Maidenhead and Springfield Road
in Windsor. Only the Bridge Road post office in Maidenhead was saved.
Cllr Knight said: “We
were all delighted to hear that Bridge Road post office will remain open,
but it seems that this is now at the expense of South Ascot.
“The post office in
Brockenhurst Road is the only one in the area, and serves a wide community
including residents on the Bouldish Farm estate, many of whom do not have
their own transport.
“The other nearest
post offices are in Ascot High Street, which is a walk up a very steep hill
from South Ascot, and the main post office in Sunninghill is even further
away.
“The closure of
Brockenhurst Road would impact very severely on many older people and some
of the most vulnerable members of our community. We are determined to fight
to try to save this valuable asset which is truly a lifeline for so many.”
A six-week
consultation on the proposals to close South Ascot post office begins on May
28 and runs until July 8.
