At one time we had three post offices in the area bounded by London Road and Whitehorse Road.

Two of these closed by the fact that the proprietors gave up their premises of their own free will, which left us with only the one post office in this area.

That is one which has been earmarked for closure. I would like the Post Office to explain why the members of our association and the many residents of this area, should be singled out in this way, as the closure of Bensham Lane post office would mean people have to travel some distance to use services elsewhere.

The closure, if implemented, would cause considerable hardship to many people.

In particular, it will affect the elderly, who rely a great deal on the post office and its manager to provide guidance and advice when dealing with the multitude of Government documents and regulations with which they have to contend.

Many people of pensionable age gain access to their old age pension through the post office.

There is nowhere nearby where they can access their pension, even if it is paid into a bank account, as there are no local branches of any banking concern.

Additionally, the use of telephone or internet services is not practical for a large proportion of the more elderly, whose experience of such services is small or non-existent.

An elderly person is unable to grasp the use of technology to gain their ends, especially when they have been used to an existing means of so doing.

BROAD GREEN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

West Croydon