MORE than 5,000 signatures have been received on a petition to halt the move of a popular post office in Romford.
Under the proposals Royal Mail bosses had planned to move the post office from its current position on South Street to the first floor of the WH Smith store in the nearby Liberty Centre.
The petition was handed over to two post office representatives last Friday by Eamonn Mahon, who is fronting the campaign.
He said: “It’s a 5,000 name petition, that’s the level of opposition to this proposal.”
Campaigners launched the petition after concern over the new position being on the first floor allowing poor access for people in wheelchairs, mobility scooters and with pushchairs.
Eamonn, who is Chairman of the Brookelands Residents’ Association, continued: “They have done this in Brentwood, Ilford and East Ham, to quote just a few places, and people from there have come over here to sign my petition and they tell me its havoc in those three places.
“The lift that they have here is only a small lift and with the mobility scooters now getting bigger you won’t get more than one in there at a time.
“My Main concern is for the elderly and the infirm, they’re going to suffer the most through this proposal”.
However, Mark Lawrence, Network Development Manager for the Post Office, disagrees: “There will be two customer lifts and an escalator and stairs, one of the lifts is brand new, it’s being re-established so customers can use that, it’s a drive on drive off lift so it’s perfect for people with mobility issues, whether that be mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
“It’s not open at the moment but as part of opening the store at the old WH Smith that will become available for customers”.
But that hasn’t stopped angry residents from backing the campaign. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s terrible what they plan to do, there used to be a lovely big post office up the high street. Why don’t they put more staff in this one and keep it where it is?”
Yet it seems despite this fierce opposition the Post Office is determined to crack on with their proposal.
Martine Munby, Senior External Relations Manager for the Post Office, who received the petition, said: “Obviously we are happy to receive any petition”, before making a swift exit.
Eamonn continued: “I was over there in WH Smith last Thursday and the lift was broken, they had to physically lift three pushchairs down the stairs, it’s a mad proposal and I think they should think again and stop it.
“I plead with the post office to think again and give Romford a post office that fits this town!”