A community spokesman today expressed his disappointment at the proposed closure of two Braintree branches.

Last week the Evening Gazette revealed the branches in Bradford Street and Clare Road are set to close in July as a result of Post Office Ltd plans to restructure and modernise its national network of more than 9,000 urban branches.

Discussions with sub-postmasters in the town revealed the two branches would be willing to close their business if Post Office investigations and consultations with local residents found it to be the most viable option to safeguard other branches in the town.

Today, Ken Kingston, chairman of the Friends of Bradford Street, said that as an organisation interested in the fabric of Bradford Street it would be a shame to see the Post Office close.

He said: "It's going to affect a lot of people who rely on it for their pensions or who find difficulty in travelling, that's what we are concerned about.

"It looks like there's an inevitability about it with the change in the way pensions are paid straight into bank accounts.

"It would be nice to keep it open and if we find there's an upswell of interest in doing so we will put our shoulders to the wall."

A spokesman for the Post Office Ltd said all customers in Braintree will continue to have reasonable access to local Post Office products and services and even after any changes are made well over 95 per cent of customers will still live within a mile of a post office branch.

Post Office customers are invited to voice any concerns they have about the closures by post to National Consultation Team, PO BOX 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN, before May 21

Published Tuesday, April 22, 2003

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