Kingston residents may have the chance to meet with Post Office officials to discuss the recent spate of branch closures at a meeting organised by the council.

Post Office Ltd has announced two Surbiton branches, in Ewell Road and Tolworth Rise, could close in March. New Malden's South Lane post office closed in November. Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey predicts up to seven borough post offices could be forced to close.

The community meeting set for April will give the chance for residents, councillors and charities to give evidence on the impact of the closures. The council is waiting for the company to confirm it will attend.

Conservative Surbiton Hill councillor Jane Smith demanded the meeting at the council's community overview panel.

Coun Smith said: "The basic fact is that the people most hurt by recent closures are the vulnerable and elderly.

"Closing 284 Ewell Road is one of what could be a long line of closures, each as disastrous as the last, that are slowly killing off local communities."

Labour leader Councillor Ed Naylor questioned how effective a local meeting would be in changing the Post Office's plans. He suggested the council leader raise the matter with other London authorities and make a joint representation to the company.

The Post Office announced West Barnes branch in Seaforth Avenue, just over the border in Merton, is set to close in April.

l Do you think the closure of 3,000 post offices across the country will kill off the local community? Have your say on

our website ballot at www.kingston

guardian.co.uk/views/postoffice.

January 31, 2003 11:00