The Post offices in Bates Road, Ditchling Road and Havelock Road, Brighton, all closed their doors for the last time on April 9 and 12.

These closures come as no surprise as the public meeting to hear objections to their services being withdrawn came after the date of the end of the decision-making process.

Make no mistake, this is only the beginning of what can only be described as a "Beeching axe" of Post Offices.

Just look at how many railway lines and stations have been reopened around the country in recent years, all having closed in the Sixties.

Once a facility is lost, it can take decades of campaigning for it to be reinstated, if it ever it. That is why it is so important to resist any further Post Office closures.

I have heard, on good authority, the next closures will be those at 22 Western Road, Hove, 83 Lewes Road, Brighton, and 13 Preston Road, Brighton (Preston Circus).

Now is the time to object to these closures and you can do this by writing to your MP or direct to Drew McBride, Head of Area, Post Office Ltd, PO Box 641, St Albans AL1 5XN.

The closure decision rests with Mr McBride's department and the proposed final day of service at all three offices in question will be October 6, 2003.

-William Elliott, Hove