New Post Office proposed for Shepherd's Bush

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A lifeline has been thrown to residents in Shepherd's Bush and Holland Park after proposals to open a new post office were revealed.

The area around the Shepherd's Bush/Holland Park Road border has been without counters since the closure of the office inside Costcutter in St Ann's Road in September last year.

But, in a boost for residents, a new facility is set to open in November for a trial period of 12 months just 25 yards away in Swanscombe News, Swanscombe Road.

Ahead of its proposed launch, Post Office Limited has opened a consultation and is asking for feedback from the public as to what they want considered ahead of the opening. The decision is set to be rubber-stamped next month.

A Post Office spokesman said: "It is our intention to continue to provide a Post Office service to our customers in the local community and since the closure we have been exploring a number of options that would

enable us to do this.

"The establishment of this Post Office local service presents the best possible solution to allow us to provide Post Office services in the area."

The developments have been welcomed by residents. Pensioner Valerie Parker said: "It's been a real bind in the past few months, especially for elderly people because we find it difficult to move about.

"This will make life a lot easier because I need a post office to send parcels to my daughter in Australia."

The new counters, which would be open seven days a week, would provide all the usual services, as well as automated banking, and bill and budget payment schemes.

But Post Office Limited is warning the long-term future of the shop very much depends on customers making use of it.

The spokesman said: "The success of the trial is, to a great extent, reliant on customers using this Post Office on a regular basis and we will be reviewing the situation, and any customer feedback,over the coming months."

* The consultation runs until Tuesday, September 21. Submissions can be made to Post Office Limited, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford WD18 8ZW, via email to consultation@postoffice.co.uk, by calling 08457223344 or textphoning 08457 223355.

[subbie]

PO Local does not provide "all" the usual services, this style of PO service has not been properly road tested, and the business model it operates with is also not fully tested for its sustainability.

Several PO Local PO's have chucked it in within the first year of operation cos it doesn't make them the money they thought it would.

Subbie