The bombshell news of the planned post office closures has sent shock waves through Wolverhampton.
It was the worst possible 51st birthday present for postmaster Jagbinder Singh and came just three days after his mother suffered a heart attack. He flew to her bedside in India on Monday.
Mr Singh has run the Portobello post office in Willenhall Road for ten years and his wife Balbinder Kaur had to break the news to customers that it was in line for the axe. “This is a terrible shock and I am feeling quite emotional,” she confessed this afternoon. “My husband phoned me this morning to get the news. I cannot put into words the pain I feel.
“I do not know which way to look. I doubt we can keep the shop open without the post office business.”
The proposed axing of Prestwood Road post office infuriated local MP Ken Purchase. It is in the ward of Labour councillor Les Turner who warned: ” This will hit the elderly very hard. I am not happy with the loss of any service and this is very unfortunate.”
Valwant Singh Bilkhu, 57, has been in charge of the post office at Newhampton Road West for over 28 years.
He said: ” I needed another five years and I would have been alright. This is a devastating blow. I do not know why we have been singled out but we are determined to fight the closure proposal. I just hope the public backs us.”
Pavitter Chhina has controlled the Villiers Avenue post office in Villiers Square, Bilston for 14 years. The mother of three confessed: “We have noticed less customers in recent years but this is still a valuable local service. Its closure would hit people hard.”
The Upper Penn post office in Penn Road has been run by Mukesh Bahri for the past 10 years. His wife Jaswinder commented: “Hopefully we will get this decision reversed.”
Pat McFadden MP for Wolverhampton South East and Minister of State for Postal Affairs insisted: “These closures are not foregone conclusions. I would urge people to take part in the consultation process and make representations to the appropriate bodies.”
In Walsall, where five branches also face closure, angry customers spoke of their disappointment at the loss of a vital community lifeline. Regular users of The Butts post office were shocked to discover the branch is one of five earmarked for the axe.
The post office in Butts Road provides an important service for elderly people in the area to pick up their pension and send letters. But it is on the hitlist along with Delves post office, in Walstead Road, Dudley Fields, Sneyd Hall Road, Bloxwich, Rushall in Lichfield Road and Stafford Street post office on the outskirts of Walsall town centre.
Many users of the The Butts post office, which is linked to Johal News, were confronted with the news the service could soon cease to exist this morning.
Nigel Lear, aged 33, said: “I am very unhappy about this, there are a lot of people especially the elderly who rely on the services provided here.
“It is important to have a post office in this area as the nearest one will be Walsall town centre and it is too far to get too.
Betty Powell, aged 76, said:”It is terrible as it is an important part of the community and will affect a lot of people around here.
Kathleen White, 63, added: “I do a lot to help the elderly people such as collecting their pension and I am going to be lost without this. There are a lot of senior people around here and will have a big impact.”
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