Four post offices in the borough have been earmarked for closure - just three months after Streatham High Road's branch was shut.

The Post Office announced today that the branches in Hermitage Lane, Streatham, Gipsy Road in West Norwood, Central Hill in Upper Norwood and Streatham Place - which has already been knocked down - could be shut as early as July.

The proposals are part of a nationwide cull of 2,500 post office branches. Of the 681 branches in London, 169 have been suggested for closure.

In November the post office in Streatham High Road was shut and its services were transferred to the nearby WH Smith - despite a 5,000 signature petition against the closure.

Chris Nicholson, Streatham's Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman, has slammed the plans and encouraged residents to start a new protest against them.

"These proposals are devastating for the residents affected and for the local businesses who rely on the trade attracted to the local shopping parades."

He added: "Regarding the Streatham Place branch, we always knew the parade of shops where it was situated was going to be destroyed. What was unclear was whether they were going to replace it or not. Now it certainly seems they won't."

The proposed closures could mean more post misery for local residents who, following strikes at a Streatham delivery office last October, were left waiting up to two months for their letters to arrive.

Streatham MP Keith Hill said he "very much regretted" the proposed closures of the Post Offices, adding: "I shall be meeting the Post Office to express my concerns, with a particular focus on how the proposals will affect elderly and disabled customers, and to call for the retention of a viable post office network at the local level."

Lambeth's London Assembly member Valerie Shawcross also hit out at the plans. "I am very worried that at a time when we are seeking to regenerate poorer areas of London that local shopping parades will be hit by the loss of an important local service which attracts shoppers to use their local shops and facilities."

Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for London, said the decision to close any post office was "always very difficult" and one that will cause concern to many customers.

"We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in London bearing in mind the minimum access criteria and the other factors to which we have to have regard," she said.

Other branches earmarked for closure in Lambeth include Acre Lane in Brixton, Abbeville Road and Clapham High Street in Clapham.

The Post Office will now conduct a six-week public consultation about the plans, which will finish on April 2.

Phone 0845 722 3344, or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk for more information.

  • What do you think about the proposed closures? What impact will it have on you? Post your comments below.