Four post offices will shut

Thousands of people in Eastbourne signed petitions, wrote letters, printed posters and joined demonstrations in a bid to save the branches.

But the Post Office says all four branches under consultation will shut within three months.

Most controversially, the main Upperton Road branch will close on February 7 despite 70 per cent of shops in the town centre warning its closure would cause long-term damage to their business.

Branch closures will happen in December in Avard Crescent, Church Street and Compton Street, while a post office in Whitley Road shut last month.

Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson said the company may now face a legal challenge.

He promised to raise Post Office conduct in the House of Commons following anger that its consultation process was flawed.

At a highly-charged public meeting at the town hall attended by Post Office chiefs last month, some people claimed the decisions had already been made.

Mr Waterson said: "Many of my constituents will be massively disappointed by this news.

"I believe the so-called consultation has been a total sham and the Post Office has failed to act in good faith throughout."

The Lib Dems' Eastbourne parliamentary hopeful Stephen Lloyd said: "The Post Office is trampling over the people of Eastbourne.

"It is ignoring the views of the thousands of Eastbourne residents who have objected.

"It is ignoring the fears amongst local businesses."

Dr David Bland, chairman of watchdog Postwatch South-East England, said: "This decision is a slap in the face for the people of Eastbourne.

"Post Office Ltd's decision to proceed with closing the Upperton Road branch shows it has ignored the views of its customers.

"The views expressed at the public meeting last month left us in no doubt that there is overwhelming support from the community for keeping a post office in the Upperton Road area."

Post Office Ltd blamed falling customer numbers, rising running costs and increased competition with the advent of direct benefit payments into accounts.

In addition, the boom in email and text messaging has hit stamp sales heavily, while a Government shake-up will result in the firm losing up to 40 per cent of its benefit agency work.

The closures decision drew condemnation from campaigners who accused the Post Office of riding roughshod over customers' concerns.

Thousands had objected, from business owners, pensioners to young mothers and politicians, with one petition carrying more than 11,000 signatures.

Opponents said they had been ignored.

Post Office officials today insisted the Upperton Road closure was a "sensible" decision and improvements to the Terminus Road branch will ensure no decline in service.

Area head Kevin Ray said: "We realise our customers are concerned about losing a post office branch.

"And we fully appreciate that using a different branch a little further away will be a major change for some, particularly to our elderly customers.

"However, if we are to meet our aim of securing a viable, accessible Post Office branch network for all our customers in the future we must change the way we provide our services in the area.

"We have a responsibility to ensure customers in Eastbourne will continue to have reasonable access to Post Office products and services.

"Even after any changes are made, well over 95 per cent of customers will still live within a mile of a post office branch.

"And the soon to be improved Terminus Road and Old Town branches are considerably less than three-quarters of a mile from the closing branch.

"We have concluded that if Upperton Road were to close it would improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area."

Of the three other closures, Drew McBride, of Post Office Ltd, said: "The issue is not about the future of an individual branch but the overall viability of our network.

"Even with the closure of the Avard Crescent, Church Street and Grand Hotel buildings, customers will still have reasonable access to Post Office services."