The branch in Hampstead High Street

THE Post Office has announced it will stop directly managing high street services – increasing fears that the Hampstead branch will close.

The only guarantee offered to campaigners calling for the one in Hampstead High Street to be protected is that there will be a franchise running somewhere within a mile radius.

The last two months have seen a series of warnings of how residents and businesses in the area still see it as a vital part of their lives.

In a shake-up of how the state-run business operates, the Post Office said all branches in the UK will be run with this arms-length set-up.

The Heath and Hampstead Society had delivered an open letter, co-signed by constituency MP Tulip Siddiq and councillors, urging Gareth Thomas MP and Nigel Railton, CEO of the Post Office, to reconsider the overhaul.

But last week the Post Office confirmed that the last remaining 108 directly managed branches will turn into franchise.

Marc Hutchinson, chair of the Heath & Hampstead Society, said: “It was a friendly response from the Post Office after our initial letter – not a brush-off. We still want to see a franchised branch which should stay in the present location which must still provide a full service.”

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The society has now sent a fresh letter outlining the concerns of those desperate to keep the post office where it is.

“Under the plan announced there is a promise that there will be a franchised post office at least within a mile of the current one but a mile away could be a long way, it could be down in Camden Town or West Hampstead,” said Mr Hutchinson.

“It could be a long way for people to walk, particularly the elderly who rely on the branch’s centrality and present location. Also, one can see from the usage at the high street post office now that it is well used and is busy at almost every time of the day.”

He added: “We are very disappointed with the Post Office’s decision but they are not going to change their view on that. I think that the financial considerations in trying to keep a post office going transcended all other considerations.”

The New Journal has reported several times how the users of the branch feel it is in the perfect spot.

Mr Hutchinson said: “It’s the centrality of the post office here in Hampstead – if you think about where the catchment area is for that. It goes up as far as Frognal, goes down as far as Belsize Park and South End Green.

“We seek an assurance that the location will not be moved and that the franchised post office will be on the site of the present post office and that the franchised service will be a full service and not a restricted service like, for example, the one in Kavanagh’s in Belsize Park.”

The Post Office has faced similar calls to keep services running in Swiss Cottage – where the branch in WHSmith has closed since the stationer quit Finchley Road – and Kilburn.

Mr Railton said: “The 108 post offices will either stay in the same location where possible or be located close to the existing location, meaning customers will continue to have access to a full suite of products and services.”