Post office will be axed

The news came this week in the wake of last year's reprieve when the London Road branch was earmarked for closure.

Subpostmistress Jill Williams has been working at the post office for nine years and seen her branch become busier.

She said: "We're still coming to terms with it. I think it's going to hit the pensioners hard.

"It's really sad and I'm sure there's going to be a knock-on effect on the shops around here.

"There are no plans at the moment to extend the shop, but it could be an option."

This is the latest casualty in a Government plan to streamline services. It sees residents within one mile of an alternative branch.

They believe fewer people are using the post office because traditional services are met though the internet and banks. It has decided that the size and shape of the network has to change.

Collington Ward Rother member Cllr Chris Starnes said: "My feeling is that the Post Office is not operating as a public service anymore.

"This closure is going to affect the most vulnerable people in society - and in Bexhill that is the elderly.

"They are going to find it difficult to go the extra mile to the Devonshire Square Post Office. Not only does it mean a bus journey or walking but most simply can't stand that long.

"It took me 25 minutes in a queue to reach the counter at Devonshire Square the other day.

Postwatch was the independant body representing Post Office customers. They oversaw the consulation process.

Sheila Button, regional chairman of Postwatch South East said: "We were not able to pursuade Post Office Ltd to keep these (countywide) branches open. We put the case, based on relevent local customer factors.

"We now have to accept the decision. Postwatch does not have a veto over this."

The organisation believes that falling numbers of customers and finacial losses meant there had to be some closures, and would rather it was a planned approach.