Robert Marshall-Andrews

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Like its 2003 again, but this time they want to close Bingham Road Post Office

Keeping our local post office

The Post Office is proposing to close its local branch located at Bingham Road Branch, 185 Frindsbury Rd and is currently undertaking a consultation with the local community before taking its final decision on whether to close the Frindsbury branch. The consultation closes on 12th November.

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

Bob Marshall-Andrews, Medway's Labour MP, said: "Like residents of Frindsbury and Wainscott I am very concerned about the proposed closure of the Bingham Road Post Office.  I wrote to the Post Office's Mr Herbert yesterday detailing my opposition to the closure.

"Noting the time limitation on the consultation I am encouraging residents to write directly to the Post Office, address below."

Mr Gary Herbert

Network Development Manager

Post Office Ltd

FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

Dear Mr Herbert

Re.: Proposal closure of the Bingham Road Branch, 185 Frindsbury Rd, Frindsbury.

Thank you for your letter of 27 September detailing proposed closure of the Post Offices across Kent.

I wish to refer to the one planned branch closure in my Medway Constituency, namely Bingham Road Branch.  I oppose the closure of the said branch.

 October four years ago I wrote to Post Office Ltd asking it to give serious consideration to overturning its then decision to close its Wainscott Branch for the following reasons, ‘Despite its proximity to Medway, Wainscott village 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.’

 At the time one of the main rational behind closing the Wainscott Branch was that the Bingham Road Branch was just over half mile away.  I enclose a copy of the Post Office’s Wainscott Branch final decision closure letter dated 21 October 2003.

Frindsbury, like Wainscott, is a clear and identifiable community.  Bingham Road Branch now serves residents of both named communities as well as residents living in the neighbouring village of Upnor and local small businesses based nearby and on the adjacent Medway City Industrial Estate.

 So echoing my sentiments of four years ago, the closure of the Bingham Road Post Office will have a dramatic effect upon the inhabitants of Frindsbury and Wainscott, in particular upon the elderly and those on low incomes.  It will also have an inevitable effect on the sense of community and identity which is of considerable value to local residents

Yours sincerely,  Bob Marshall-Andrews QC MP