Forum Topic

brentford post office closure

First the bank,now the post office,does no one care about whats happening to our local high street,soon to be no supermarket either,seems to me we older residents are being pushed out of our community,to make way for on line banking charity and betting shops.Whats going onHow are those of us who do not wish to be made to pay our rents,bills ect on line,what happened to freedom of choice,i am all for so called progress,but to what expense this closure is making to our older residents,i have lived in Brentford for over 40 years,and love my town.but am very worried about the plans for our community,of the impact these banking closures is making,so badly miss the loss of nat west bank and now the post office,and i am sure i speak for many of our older residents,who are finding it tough to pay our rents and bills,please do not over look us.

christine stansby ● 2459d10 Comments

The whole length of that side of the road is being re-developed, which is why so many businesses there are shutting down.Thankfully Barclays seem to be staying put for now, so hopefully the NatWest account holders will have switched to them. If you have not, you are not helping that branch stay open.I am surprised Martins did not want the post office. Its a bit of a ghost shop and would benefit from the extra footfall.It was the Labour Party who closed almost half of the post offices. Since Privatisation, the huge cuts in numbers seem to have stopped, instead we are seeing smaller in-store post offices replacing large empty stand alone post offices. So much is online now that we just don't need a 1950's style post office.

Christopher Gillie ● 2456d

I work for Royal Mail.I have been told through work sources that local businesses have been approached without success at the moment.I have also been told that local newsagents have been approached to take on the Post Office from the owners of the newsagents themselves.

Martin Webb ● 2456d

I think if you add in the really appalling way that postmasters have been treated because the P.O. management wouldn't admit their 'Horizon' I.T. system was useless, yet still continued to prosecute sub postmasters - some going to prison, then it's hardly surprising that no-one wants to take this job on. There is a high court trial going on with 560 sub postmasters taking on the P.O. over this, all management have done is try to cover up system failings they have known about since 2012.

Vanessa Smith ● 2456d

Where did you get the information that businesses have been approached in this way? I'm not doubting what you say, just wondering about the source.

Anne England ● 2458d

It would probably take you the same time to get to the London Rd Isleworth PO by the Stn, from Brentford, as it does now from Isleworth Sth.

Robin Dickers ● 2458d

Post offices used to be run by the post office. A proper dedicated building. This should have been a condition when the PO was privatised. Why not? Because it would not have been such an attractive proposition.

Nicholas Beard ● 2458d

This has nothing whatsoever to do with shareholders and profits.Businesses the full length of Brentford High St and London Rd from Busch Corner to kew Bridge have been approached to see if they would be interested in taking on the Post office once it closes.Not one is interested.A bit short sighted of the Post Office perhaps, but what are they supposed to do in this situation?They are still trying to find a solution but with most of the High St set to go, it doesn't leave a lot in terms of options.As far as the south of Isleworth is concerned - yet again it's down to the existing owners of the property if they no longer wish to be a Post Office. At least there is an alternative. Brentford will have nothing.

Martin Webb ● 2458d

And of course more diesel from the buses. When I lived in Hanwell there were two post offices.

Nicholas Beard ● 2458d

Similarly Isleworth - you either have get a bus up to Isleworth Station or into Twickenham for the nearest P.O. if you live in South Isleworth. That's the price of privatisation - profit for shareholders, humungous salaries and bonuses for higher management and no bloody service for the public.

Vanessa Smith ● 2458d

You are right. I pay electric etc by phone. Internet banking ?????? Would not touch it nobody will say how much is lost by fraud. I have had a credit card frauded. Loads of questions and I was told it was nothing that I had done. I had not used it online even. As for paying council tax I know someone with a house abroad and they have just been told from next year pay online. So its not just her. However you can still send a cheque but if you do its £11 extra. This site is ok, but when you are dealing with money or registering for things if it goes wrong its a pain. High streets are for burgers betting etc. I dont want to get shopping on line. There was a phone in about this and the host was all for it but he said he would never buy shoes online. Of course if they dont fit you can send them back BUT HANG ON THE POST OFFICE HAS CLOSED!!!!!!

Nicholas Beard ● 2458d