Postal closures '“ 20 votes could have meant victory

Mr Gibb said: "If the Hawthorn Road and South Bersted branches closed, a large area of residential Bognor would be devoid of any post office branch.

"Part of that area encompasses two of the most deprived wards in West Sussex. Only one third of residents in Pevensey, for example, own a car.

"Given poor public transport there is great reliance on post offices remaining local.

"Closing these two branches would present real difficulties for many residents in the area."

For the Craigweil branch in Barrack Lane in Aldwick, the fear is that its loss would have a severe knock-on effect for the other shops in Coastguards Parade, Mr Gibbs stated.

"If we lose the shop and post office, which is run by Barbara and Robin Doe, the whole hub of that community will go as well," he claimed.

The Craigweil branch, along with the neighbouring Aldwick one, also served population with large numbers of elderly residents. Nearly four out of ten residents around the branches were aged over 65. One in 20 were 85-plus.

The debate last Wednesday evening was brought by the Conservatives to protest against the closure of 2,500 post offices around the country.

The Tories' motion attacked the six week consultation programme for proposed closures and the access criteria used to determine which branches should go.

It also called for business expansion and potential business opportunities to be explored before any further branches are axed.

Several Labour MPs supported the motion to mean it was only defeated by 288 votes to 268.

Five branches in the Bognor area have been earmarked by Post Office Ltd for possible closure.

They are Aldwick in Aldwick Street; Craigweil, Barrack Lane; South Bersted, Gordon Avenue; Hawthorn Road and Station Road.

Protests about the closures have been held for four of the branches. Letters and petitions have been sent off among the 4,500 protests for the potential axings in Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex .

Consultation about the proposals closed on March 10. An announcement about which branches will shut is expected next month. The closures will take place after May 31.