6:40am Monday 23rd April 2007
By Julie Magee
The decision to close Bournemouth and Poole's historic town centre post offices after more than a century of service has come under fire from Daily Echo readers.
We revealed on Saturday how the Victorian building in Post Office Road, Bournemouth and Poole's High Street branch will shut within the next 18 months as 70 post offices across the country are absorbed into branches of WH Smith.
Staff will be offered the chance to move to the new franchise offices, other posts in the Royal Mail or take redundancy.
Making his views known on our website, concerned reader Glenn from Poole said: "I have always regarded WH Smith as retailers of stationary and books, rather than retailers of mail and couriers. I guess I am just out of touch.
"I have endured horrendous waits in queues in both WH Smith and the Post Office. Why are post offices being closed?" He asked why the decision to close the Bournemouth and Poole town centre post offices had not been challenged by local politicians.
Jackie said: "Does this mean that they will have to re-name Post Office Road. They can't call it that anymore surely?
"This unfortunately has to be accepted as the changing face of Britain."
J Phillips from Bournemouth described the decision as "disgusting," adding: "Surely a post office is a post office and WH Smith a retailer.
"The floor space required at both Bournemouth and Poole will take up half the store. It seems they just want all post offices gone.
"There will be a queue halfway round the Square, blocking pavements. The queue in Bournemouth post office now often reaches the door."
The Westbourne post office on Seamoor Road will be the only crown (non-franchised) office left inside the BH postcode.
Nationwide, up to 3,000 jobs could be lost with the closure of 70 branches. More than 30 people are currently employed in the Bournemouth and Poole town centre post office branches.
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