Positive signs say Barkingside residents after PO Forum

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Positive signs say Barkingside residents after Post Office public forum

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Residents were left quietly confident their demands would be met over the proposals to move Barkingside Post Office after a public forum was held last week.

As part of the public consultation, the Post Office held a forum to explain the move at Fulwell Cross Library in Fairlop last week ahead of July 23 - when residents must have returned their feedback.

Barkingside Post Office is set to move from its current location to 115-125 High Street, Barkingside - about 85 metres from its site at 128 High Street, Barkingside.

Resident Harold Moth, 70, of Tomswood Hill, Barkingside, praised the Post Office for its transparency on the move.

He said: “The forum went very well - they were very open with what they were going to do.

“It is going to be quite a big space in the new site.”

The proposed new premises, which are currently trading as The Co-operative store, would undergo a complete refurbishment to incorporate Barkingside Post Office and the new operator’s existing business, Quidsaver, should the move go ahead.

However, Mr Moth claimed the Post Office were unable to tell him where a post box would be in the street.

Dave Martin, another Tomswood resident, who lives in Hanover Gardens, admitted to having concerns over the number of staff available.

“I probably go down there once or twice a week but it is true to say that if I can avoid going there I will because there only ever seems to be two members of staff,” he said.

Cllr Joyce Ryan, a Fairlop ward councillor, who attended the meeting, said the most important issue was not to lose a Post Office.

She also added: “The facilities are at back of the new Post Office so people will not have to queue right out on the street. I feel reassured. ”

The Post Office expects to reach a decision in four to six weeks following the end of a public consultation, though it did add this process can take longer depending on the amount of correspondence received.

A Post Office spokesman said: “We will be considering all of the feedback received during the consultation and at the customer forum, and would like to thank the local community for engaging.

“When a decision is made, we will inform customers and local representatives, and inform the press,” added the spokesman.