Vince Cable

Hundreds of residents have replied to letters from MP Vincent Cable about the proposed post office closures in East Twickenham (Cambridge Park), Teddington (Broad Street) and Twickenham Green (Staines Road).

There have been large petitions from residents in these areas (and also from Whitton residents concerned about the impact on them of the closure of a nearby Hounslow post office on Whitton Road).

Number of replies Number seriously affected Number with special mobility problems

Broad Street 204 107 (53%) 52

Cambridge Park 207 149 (72%) 63

Staines Road 240 137 (57%) 56

Vincent Cable said: "we now have some hard evidence of the public reaction to these proposed closures. Well over half the people who replied will be seriously affected. These include those with mobility problems and also small businesses who have written to me about the problems of sending out large numbers of parcels when they have to work through a different post office. I also had strong representations from Brinsworth House in Twickenham about the impact on their elderly residents of no longer having a local office".

Vincent Cable added that: "there has been a spontaneous eruption of local feeling in Whitton ward over the closure in nearby Hounslow. White Farm Lodge, home for the elderly, has expressed particular concern. Whitton lost one post office very recently - on Kneller Road - and now faces another which will lead to even more overcrowding in the main Whitton post office".

Vincent Cable will now present the results to the Post Office in a final appeal, seeking a review of the decision.