March at post office closure plan

Post offices listed for closure

A protest walk is being held from a Sussex post office earmarked for closure to the nearest alternative branch for the people who use it.

East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton is highlighting the potential effect on customers at the Bowness Avenue post office in Sompting.

He plans to visit all nine branches in his constituency facing closure.

Public consultation is being carried out on plans to shut a total of 49 post offices across Sussex.

Website petition

The locations were announced on Tuesday, covering Burgess Hill, Seaford, Bexhill, Crawley, Battle, Worthing, Wadhurst, Brighton and Hove, Arundel, Eastbourne, Uckfield, Haywards Heath, Heathfield, Lewes, Newhaven, Horsham, Shoreham, Hastings, Rye, Crowborough, Hailsham, Polegate and Pulborough.

Mr Loughton said: "We have a large elderly population [in his constituency] and post offices are particularly valuable to them.

"It is simply unrealistic to think that a situation where people have to walk a mile to a post office or rely on inadequate public transport is acceptable."

A petition calling on the government to abandon the proposed closures has been set up on his website.

Mr Loughton will be joined by local councillors and Bowness Avenue postmistress Carol Attwater on Friday's mile-long walk from Sompting to Lancing.

Ms Attwater said the march was aimed at highlighting a claim that "it's going to be too far for an awul lot pf people".

The post office consultation runs for six weeks.