Fight to Save North London Post Office from Closure Grows

People are trying to save a post office. It’s in North London, and they fear closure. Hundreds signed a petition to stop it. Residents say closure hurts their area and their community’s heart.

Last November, plans came out stating that the Post Office wants to close 115 branches in towns and city centers across the country. Thirty-two of these London branches are in danger, one of which is the Kilburn High Road’s branch. This sparked anger from some residents.

Almost 700 people signed the petition requesting that Nigel Railton, the Post Office’s interim CEO, step in. They urge local MP Gareth Thomas to help as well. Petitioners say the closure removes something vital and rips out part of their social life.

The online petition was started by a local group called ‘Life in Kilburn.’ Regular users can testify to its vital role, affirming that the post office serves many people as both a service provider and a discussion place. People connect with each other there, they added.

Post Offices help local economies, nationally and in Kilburn. This branch helps local businesses by offering services such as postage and banking and assists with forms, identity verification, and utilities. They say this empowers the local economy. The petition claims that the closure will inconvenience local people and damage local businesses.

Some branches are run by postmasters but the Kilburn branch is state-owned. The Post Office has new leadership now and they seek other operators for branches, otherwise they might actually close down. This could risk hundreds of jobs for people.

Three other Brent Post Offices are at risk, located in Harlesden, Cricklewood, and Kingsbury. The Communication Workers Union also wants the plan stopped and they want government to step in. The union leader called the plan ‘tone deaf’ and said it was cruel after the IT scandal.

The Post Office started a transformation plan to help postmasters. The plan needs more money to boost efficiency and reduce costs as they examine the future of branches. They say these branches lose money, but they haven’t made choices yet.

They invited interest in operating Post Offices, including the Kilburn branch, to assess market interest and explore franchising options. They will review responses and share the results with trade unions and others involved. Gareth Thomas MP was asked to comment but had not responded by the time of publishing.