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DESPITE a three-month Guardian campaign supported by thousands of residents, Royal Mail has finally announced it will close South Woodford Post Office.

The decision, revealed today (Wednesday), will sadden the 3,000 people who signed a petition calling for the popular office, in the High Road, to be saved.

Royal Mail announced its intention to close the facility, which is one of 169 to be shut across London, despite receiving fierce opposition from residents during a six-week consultation on the issue.

The decision will leave the area's burgeoning population without access to a local post office for the first time.

Disappointed Subpostmaster, Zahid Mahmood, slammed the Royal Mail decision, but thanked Guardian readers for their support in fighting the closure.

He said: "I'm very disappointed with the decision. It's devastating as we had so much support from everybody and all the people and local churches and schools.

"They are just going through the motions and don't care what people think. If they are not going to listen to people's views then what's the point.

"Out of all post offices this one has so much community spirit and so many people wrote in. Now I have got only one month to close up shop or they'll start charging me money."

These views were backed by Woodford Green MP, Iain Duncan Smith, who dismissed the consultation period as a sham.' He said: "I'm appalled this is pathetic. It just shows that the Post Office wasn't listening. It's complete gerrymandering.

"I hand delivered the petition to the Post Office and they didn't even acknowledge that they had received it.

"The Post Office, aided and abetted by the Government, have ignored overwhelmingly local people's wishes.

"The consultation was a sham and it ain't over yet."

Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for London, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly. We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation. We believe that the amended plan announced today offers our customers in London the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government's minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider."

12:54pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

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