Robert Marshall-Andrews

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Keeping our local post office

The Post Office Proposes to Close the Wainscott Branch

The Post Office is proposing to close its local branch, located at 111 Wainscott Road, this coming November and is currently undertaking a consultation with the local community before taking its final decision on whether to close the Wainscott branch. The consultation closes on 8th October.

Please find below a copy of Bob Marshall-Andrews letter to Post Office Ltd in which he raises his opposition to the proposed closure. Copies of the letter have been delivered to local Wainscott residents with the objective of raising the profile of opposition to the proposed closure.

Bob Marshall-Andrews, Medway's Labour MP, said: "Like residents and the Community Association I am very concerned about the proposed closure of the Wainscott Post Office. I wrote to the Post Office's Mr McBridge earlier this month detailing my opposition to the closure.

"I would welcome any comments of support on the matter. Please write to me at my Medway address, which is Moathouse, 1 Castle Hill, Rochester, Kent ME1 1QQ. Noting the time limitation on the consultation you may wish to write directly to the Post Office, address below. If you do write, would you be so kind as to copy me."

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Mr Drew McBridge, Head of Area, Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, WATFORD WD18 8ZW

Dear Mr McBridge

Re.: Proposal closure of Wainscott Branch

Thank you for your letter of 26 August, 2003, concerning the proposed closure of the Post Office at Wainscott. Despite its proximity to Medway, Wainscott remains a clear and identifiable community in its own right. Travel into the Medway Towns (or on to the Hoo Peninsula) is not easy and the configuration of major roads adds to the relative isolation of this area.

The closure of the Post Office will have a drastic effect upon the inhabitants of Wainscott and, in particular, upon the elderly. It will also have an inevitable effect on the sense of community and identity which is of considerable value to its residents. In those circumstances I would welcome your immediate response and would hope that this potential decision may be reversed.

Yours sincerely, Bob Marshall-Andrews QC MP