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 New threat of closure
Your branch
The case for closure
Wandsworth's response
Loss of government business
Banking choices for customers
A linchpin for local shopping parades
Support from the council
Poor local delivery services
Postwatch
Audit watchdog criticises closures
How to oppose the closures
Post Office closure news
Have your say
Latest news
New threat of post office closures
The Government's post office closure programme will mean eight more branches shutting their doors in Wandsworth.
More than one in four of the borough's 29 post offices now face the axe. This means Wandsworth is worse hit than the rest of the country where the average is one in six.
If the latest plan goes ahead, more than half the borough's post offices will have closed since 2003.
The eight new closures are:
- 258 Balham High Road
- 268 Battersea Park Road
- 179 Garratt Lane
- 209 Lower Richmond Road
- 274 Mitcham Lane
- New Covent Garden Market
- 279 Putney Bridge Road
- 318 Trinity Road
A ninth local branch - at 43 Northcote Road - which closed without notice in 2006 temporarily - is not now expected to reopen.
 View a map of remaining offices and closures (1.2 mb)
In the last five years 14 post offices have closed in Wandsworth as part of a nationwide cost-cutting exercise. Running down local postal services in this way can have severe consequences for local communities.
The council opposes the closures and is urging the Government to look at new ways of modernising post office services.
Full information is available on the postoffice website.
What the PO says about your branch
The Post Office has produced a brief table or 'access report' showing alternative options for each of the branches earmarked for closure.
The information includes access details, opening times, location of nearest cash machines and bus routes.
258 Balham High Road (198kb)
268 Battersea Park Road (200kb)
179 Garratt Lane (132kb)
209 Lower Richmond Road (199kb)
274 Mitcham Lane (201kb)
New Covent Garden Market (198kb)
279 Putney Bridge Road (202kb)
318 Trinity Road (203kb)
It is important that this information is accurate as it forms the basis for each closure proposal. If you find any inaccuracies or have any comments please forward them to nfrost@wandsworth.gov.uk.
 The case for closure
The Post Office says there are too many local sub post offices in urban areas competing for too little business.
They argue that by closing some, those that remain will be more cost effective.
This is a national problem. The full three-year programme agreed by the Government in October 2002 has led to around to around 2,500 closures in towns and cities across the UK.
Access Report - Wandsworth gives its response
The Access Report has been drawn up by the Post Office to justify its closure plans, but Wandsworth believes the report contains a string of inconsistencies and errors.
These include fears that customer numbers and journey times to alternative branches have been underestimated and the impact on other local shops ignored.
Getting the facts straight - Wandsworth's response (59 kb)
Loss of government business
An estimated 97 per cent of sub post offices are privately owned. They depend on government contracts for their livelihood. Following pressure from the Council the Post Office have agreed to continue with the Post Office card account. However other government contracts - for example passports - are being taken away. Unless new services are added it is hard to see how branches can survive a loss of business on this scale.
Banking choices for customers
The council wants all government departments to have a fresh look at the way they use the post office branch network - and to relaunch the Post Office card account so that it can provide a more flexible and accessible range of banking services.
People should have the choice of whether they open an account with a high street bank - or stay with their local post office.
A linchpin for local shopping parades
A local post office does more than provide a friendly and accessible service for its customers. Very often it helps to attract other shops to a local parade.
The council's planning polices seek to protect local shopping streets. These can provide a sustainable alternative to car-borne shopping trips.
Post offices, like pharmacists, are key to the vitality of locations which are often far removed from the nearest high street.
There is concern that when a popular shop goes others follow. The result is less choice for residents and, for those with the least mobility, an increased sense of isolation.
To help you find your local branch, please visit the Post Office website and enter your postcode.
You can download a full list of post office branches still open in the borough.
List of post office branches - May 2007 (41 kb)
Fourteen branches have closed in Wandsworth since March 2003.
- 45 Bedford Hill, Balham
- 283 Battersea Park Road, Battersea
- 19 Barmouth Road, Wandsworth
- 30 Upper Richmond Road, Putney
- 18 Revelstoke Road, Southfields
- 57 Nightingale Lane, Balham
- 395 Tildesley Road, Putney
- 68 Lower Richmond Road, Putney
- 812 Garratt Lane, Tooting
- 103 Mitcham Road, Tooting
- 80 Moyser Road, Tooting
- 3 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common
- 2a Montfort Place, Southfields
- 43 Northcote Road
Support from the council
 In some locations the economic development office is able to provide support for postmasters threatened with closure.
This can take the form of grants and loans as well as assistance and advice with marketing and training.
One sub-post office already getting help is the Spar supermarket and post office in Trinity Road, Tooting.
The postmaster here is receiving funding from the economic development office to help pay for the refurbishment of his premises and a revamped shop front.
Find out more about the services provided by the Economic Development Office.
Poor local delivery services
As if the prospect of losing a valuable local resource is not bad enough people in our part of London are currently having to cope with some of the worst delivery services in the country.
The most recent analysis for April to September 2007 shows that just 83 per cent of first class mail posted in the south west London area arrives the following day – among the worst levels of service anywhere in the UK and declining (in 2005 it was 89.9%). The target is 93 per cent.
Postwatch
Postwatch is the consumer watchdog for the postal service. It examines every closure proposal in detail and tries to assess whether there are other post offices in the locality that customers can get to without major difficulty and whether they provide good facilities and services.
Postwatch is an independent body. Its views are based on the overall interests of customers. It is there to help you with problems you may be experiencing with your postal services.
For more information on their activities please visit the excellent Postwatch website at www.postwatch.co.uk.
You can view the detailed responses of the Council and Postwatch on this site.
Audit watchdog criticises closures
The closure programme has been criticised by the National Audit Office (NAO).
In a report published in Febnruary 2005 the watchdog says more should be done to help post offices become self-sufficient.
It goes on to warn that there could be more closures in the future if business volumes continue to fall. One of the big problems is hat business drops by 20 per cent in the immediate aftermath of a branch closure.
You can view the full report at www.nao.org.uk
How to oppose the closures
Look out for the council's postcard campaign. 'Save our post offices' cards will be delivered to homes throughout the borough during March and will also be available at libraries and many local post offices. Simply fill in the card and send it back to the council by March 26 - no stamp required.
Post Office closure news
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