Two more sub-post offices in Chelmsford are to be closed within the next two months.

Springfield Hill and Queens Road, on the Springfield Park Estate, are to be axed on top of Kings Road, on the Boarded Barns estate and Trent Road PO, which is off Chignal Road.

This latest news has been described by Chelmsford MP Simon Burns as "a body blow".

The Rev Roger Stark, whose Springfield Park Baptist Church is at the centre of the locality, says there are large numbers of elderly people who will find it a problem getting to the alternatives.

"It is even hard for them to get on the bus alone. This can make them too dependent on others and I am also worried about community. There are few shops, no pub and no community centre in this locality.

And Cllr Russell Kennedy who represents Trent Road claims the Post Office is treating Chelmsford "with contempt" and has "undermined its own public consultation process by fragmenting the announcements in what looks like a bid to confuse and dissuade opposition".

The Post Office insists the planned closures will safeguard the future of other branches in the county town.

Last week Chelmsford Co-op's chief executive Tony Gudgeon said he got a non-committal response to his offer to take over the operation of Kings Road Post Office at his store in the same street."They said their intention was to close but they would give careful consideration to our proposal as part of the objection," he said.

The Post Office says it has come to terms with all four postmasters who stand to get an average £29,000 compensation or about 28 months worth of takings if the shutdowns are confirmed.

Published Friday, January 31, 2003

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