Four post offices axed in Bognor Regis '“ all in one week

The axing of the branches has seen some 2,500 customers left without their local branch.

The cull has reduced the size of the network around the town by almost a third.

The closures have left a large area around the town devoid of postal services '“ for the first time in a century in one instance.

County and district councillor Francis Oppler, whose electoral division includes three of the branches, said: "I am disgusted by the closures. Each post office, in its different way, provided a vital service to its local community.

"All their customers '“ including elderly people and mums with small children '“ are going to be hit very hard by these closures, which ultimately are down to the government."

The closure of the branches is part of a national decision to shut 2,500 post offices.

A consultation launched by Post Office Ltd prompted protests about each of the threatened outlets. But none was spared the axe when the final decision was taken.

All closed at 1pm on their last day.

The first of the branches to shut was Aldwick Post Office, within the Tudor Newsagency, in Aldwick Road.

Maralyn Green had the unwanted distinction of being the last customer.

She was served by Kalpana Patel as the clock approached 1pm with pensions for residents in the Bognor care home she runs. It is a procedure which took place every week for about 18 years.

She said: "I think it's awful this branch is closing. It's such a good service for the local community.

"I don't understand why this branch was chosen. It's a very misguided decision.

"I come here because I think Kalpana is one of the best. It will not be my choice to go anywhere else."

Just before her at the counter was Pagham resident Wendy Daniel collecting pensions for an elderly couple. "I'm devastated this is closing," she explained.

"It's a very good service here and not having it will make it more difficult for people to get their pensions."

Mrs Patel was too upset to talk about the closure. She was surrounded by bouquets and cards from customers.

She and her husband, Ashvin Patel, took over the post office 21 years ago to continue a service begun about a century ago.

Mr Patel said: "People have been so sad we are closing. They are lost and don't know what to do now. Some of the elderly ladies have been in tears."

Next to close was the Hawthorn Road branch, within the Co-op store, yesterday (Tuesday, May 21).

Regular customer Vincent Sheil (57), of Mons Avenue, has been using it about four times a day since last October for parcels for his wife Brenda's eBay business, having been a customer for just over five years.

He said: "I sometimes bring 10-12 parcels a day here. This is very much a local post office. The staff are really friendly and helpful.

"It's a ridiculous decision to close it. I've now got to find another one which is half decent but it won't be anywhere as near as convenient."

Today (Wednesday, May 21) saw the Craigweil branch in Barrack Lane shut.

Postmistress Barbara Doe and her husband, Rob, would have run the service for 20 years next month. She said: "I feel really sad. I don't know how a lot of our customers are going to cope."

One of the final customers to be served there, Craigweil estate resident Jennifer Stephens (73), a customer for 20 years, fumed: "Closing this post office is absolutely disgraceful. It will be a disaster for the community without a post office here."

Just behind her at the counter was customer of 22 years John Batey (89), of Barrack Lane. He said: "There's absolutely no justification for shutting this post office. This is an area with a high proportion of geriatrics. The idea of walking to the post office at Rose Green is a nonsense."

It will be the turn of South Bersted Post Office, dating back to at least 1926 in Gordon Avenue, to shut tomorrow.

Postmaster Pat Patel, who has run the business since 1983 with a year's gap, said: "It has not sunk in with some of my customers we are shutting.

"I still find it hard to understand why we are closing when we are one of the busiest post offices that are shutting."

Jackie Stevens (64), of Shripney Road, has been using the branch for 40 years.

"I am angry as well as sad about the closure. It is a dreadful mistake to close this. I am just going to have to use whatever post office I can now," she said.

The fifth post office to close, Station Road, will shut in early July.

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