Post offices listed for closure

Forty-nine post office branches could close across Sussex

Forty-nine post offices across Sussex could be closed under plans to reduce the network of branches across the UK.

A six-week public consultation got under way on Tuesday.

Under the plans, the Post Office said more than 99% of the area's population will either see no change, or will remain within a mile of a branch.

Councils and MPs in Sussex have already launched campaigns against the move, urging residents to "use or lose" their post office services.

West Sussex County Council promised a "high-profile" campaign, and Mid Sussex District Council said people should keep their local branches busy, and open.

'Serious blow'

In the first wave of consultations in October, which included Kent, East Yorkshire, and the East Midlands, the government said cuts were needed because the post office network was losing £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 £4m-a- week last year, it added.

It also pointed out that, on average, fewer than 16 people a week used the 800 smallest rural post offices, at a cost of £17 per visit to the taxpayer.

The six-week consultation ends on Christmas Eve

But Wealden MP Charles Hendry said closures would come as "a serious blow".

He said: "The decision has been completely unnecessary."

And he added closures would cause "profound inconvenience to those people who rely on them, especially the elderly or disabled", with some facing long walks up steep hills to reach another branch.

And David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion MP, said: "Consultation ends on Christmas Eve. This is a time of year when many people will think especially about how much they rely on their local Post Office.

"We will be contacting people in the areas affected and urge everyone to make sure they register their protest."

Two branches have been proposed for replacement by an outreach solution, which are the Barns Green post office in Horsham, and Plaistow in Billingshurst.

The 49 branches earmarked for closure are:

Bowness Avenue, 8 Seadown Parade, Lancing

Church Road, 137 Lower Church Road, Burgess Hill

Claremont Road, 23 Claremont Road, Seaford

Collington, 2 Collington Mansions, Bexhill-On-Sea

Copthorne, Common Road, Copthorne, Crawley

Crowhurst, Crowhurst, Battle

Downlands, 1 Downlands Parade, Worthing

Durgates, Durgates, Wadhurst

Elm Grove, 150 Elm Grove, Brighton

Etchingham Road, Etchingham Road, Eastbourne

Fairways Estate, 4 Newick Close, Seaford

Framfield, The Street, Framfield, Uckfield

Franklands Village, Franklands Village, Haywards Heath

Hailsham Road, Hailsham Road, Heathfield

Heene Road, 62-66 Heene Road, Worthing

Landport, 34 Lee Road, Lewes

London Road, 91 London Road, Bexhill-On-Sea

Marine Parade, 15/17 Seaside, Eastbourne

Mount Pleasant, 2 Avis Parade Shops, Newhaven

New England Road, 42-44 America Lane, Haywards Heath

North Chailey, Haywards Heath Road, Lewes

North Lancing, Mill Road, North Lancing

North Parade, 24 North Parade, Horsham

Old Shoreham, Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham-By-Sea

Old Town Hastings, 70 George Street, Hastings

Preston, 221 Preston Road, Brighton

Preston Road, 13 Preston Road, Brighton

Queen Street, 70 Queen Street, Horsham

Richardson Road, Richardson Road, Hove

Slindon, Slindon Top Road, Slindon, Arundel

South Lancing, 83 South Street, South Lancing

Southern Cross, 86 Trafalgar Road, Portslade, Brighton

St Johns Common, 95 London Road, Burgess Hill

St Leonards Green, 45 Springfield Road, St Leonards

St Leonards Road, 15 St Leonards Road, Horsham

Station Road, 12-14 Station Road, Horsham

The Broadway, 1/2 The Broadway, Eastbourne

The Parade, 40 Broadwater Road, Worthing

The Strand, The Strand, Worthing

Tilling Green, Tilling Green News, 45 Lea Avenue, Rye

Town Row, Yew Tree Lane - Town Row, Crowborough

Trafalgar Street, 8 Trafalgar Street, Brighton

Upper Dicker, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker, Hailsham

Wannock, 41 Farmlands Way, Polegate

Warnham, 3 Church Street, Warnham, Horsham

WashingtonThe Frankland Arms, London Road, Pulborough

West Beach, 132 Beach Green, Shoreham-By-Sea

White Rock, 32-33 White Rock, Hastings

Willingdon, 116 Wish Hill, Willingdon, Eastbourne