Post office approves 56 closures

Kent will lose 56 post office branches under the plans

Fifty-six post office branches are to close across Kent with the first ones winding up in the New Year.

The announcement by Post Office Ltd follows public consultation under which 58 branches were earmarked for closure.

Two branches, in Ramsgate and Hawkhurst, won a reprieve because of issues including transport and access.

But two more branches were added to the list for closure, with consultation starting on Tuesday. They are Lane End in Dartford and Goodnestone.

A statement from the Post Office said the two were added to meet set criteria, and ensure the network could be supported by available government funding.

It added that improvements would be made to 18 branches in the county, to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, and to provide additional counters, as a result of the six-week consultation.

Consultation 'too short'

But Kent County Council leader Paul Carter said the consultation was "a farce".

He said the process was "too short, it was further reduced by postal strikes and they then gave themselves just three weeks to review and evaluate the information".

Kent was one of the first areas of the country to see a six-week consultation get under way in October, alongside East Yorks and the East Midlands.

The government has said cuts were needed because the network loses £4m weekly.

Four million fewer people were using post offices each week than two years ago and losses had risen from £2 million a week in 2005 to £4 million a week last year, it added.

The 56 branches now facing closure are:

Approach Road, 63 Approach Road, Margate

Bellevue Road, 13 Bellevue Road, Ramsgate

Benenden Chest Hospital, Cranbrook

Bidborough, 14 Bidborough Ridge, Tunbridge Wells

Bingham Road, 185 Frindsbury Road, Rochester

Brompton, 25 High Street, Brompton, Gillingham

Byron Road, 34 Byron Road, Gillingham

Canterbury Road, 14-16 Canterbury Road, Whitstable

Capel Le Ferne, Capel Le Ferne Village Hall

Chalkwell, 69 London Road, Sittingbourne

Dane Road, 55 Upper Dane Road, Margate

Denton, 4 East Milton Road, Gravesend

Duke Of York's School, Guston, Dover

East Street, 85-89 East Street, Sittingbourne

Enbrook Valley, 99 Enbrook Valley, Eynsford, Folkestone

Eynsford, The Old Forge Tea Rooms, Riverside, Dartford

Farningham, 3 High Street, Farningham, Dartford

Gills Green, Station Garage, Hawkhurst

Grange Road, 34 Grange Road, Ramsgate

Great Mongeham, Mongeham Farm, Deal

Hardy Street, 84-86 Hardy Street, Maidstone

Hectorage Road, 82 Goldsmid Road, Tonbridge

High Street, 3 High Street, Herne Bay

High Street, 13 High Street, Sevenoaks

Hythe Road, 79 Hythe Road, Ashford

Langton Green, Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells

Littlestone, 4 Warren Road, New Romney

Longfield Hill, Main Road, Longfield Hill, Dartford

Mead Road, 11 Mead Road, Dartford

Minnis Road, 137 Minnis Road, Birchington

New Bridge, 15 Bench Street, Dover

Northgate, 65 Northgate, Canterbury

Oaten Hill, 3-4 Oaten Hill, Canterbury

Rodmersham Green, 1 St Patricks Row, Sittingbourne

Saltwood, The Fountain Stores, Saltwood, Hythe

Seabrook Road, 246 Seabrook Road, Hythe

Seal, 23-25 High Street, Seal, Sevenoaks

Shipbourne Road, 55 Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge

Shorncliffe, 2 Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone

Sole Street, The Little Shoppe, Sole Street, Gravesend

South Ashford, 108 Beaver Road, Ashford

South End, 115 High Street, Edenbridge

South Park, 192 Loose Road, Maidstone

South Willesborough, 62 Gladstone Road, Ashford

St Botolphs, 2 Station Parade, Sevenoaks

St Dunstans, 21-23 Whitstable Road, Canterbury

St Johns Road, 57 St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells

Station Road, 129 Station Road, Gillingham

Station Road, Station Road, Tonbridge

Temple Hill, 11 Temple Hill Square, Dartford

Tower Hamlets, 14 West Street, Dover

Upper Deal, 311 London Road, Deal

Westbrook, 101 Canterbury Road, Margate

Wilmington, 221 High Road, Dartford

Woodnesborough, The Street, Woodnesborough

Wrotham Road, 46 Wrotham Road, Gravesend