THE COMET this week launches a campaign opposing plans to relocate a popular town centre Post Office. We feel our readers will be short-changed by plans announced last week by the Post Office which could see Letchworth GC s central post office being moved

THE COMET this week launches a campaign opposing plans to relocate a popular town centre Post Office.

We feel our readers will be short-changed by plans announced last week by the Post Office which could see Letchworth GC's central post office being moved from its prime location on Broadway to a franchise in McColl's convenience store at the far end of Station Road.

One of the reasons given by a Post Office spokesman was that the branch had recently made a financial loss.

The Comet believes that if these plans go ahead our readers will be at a disadvantage. The new location is away from the town's main bus stops, people will have further to travel and the smaller building will surely mean less counters for customers to use.

The proposed longer opening hours will do nothing to help the large majority of customers who use the current branch during the daytime.

We are asking readers to contact us and voice their concerns about the proposed move.

We will pass on letters and comments to the Royal Mail Group to show them how strongly people feel about the plans.

Last week Stuart Kenny, director general of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, voiced his concerns over the plans.

This week he told The Comet that he has written to Adam Crozier, the Royal Mail Group's chief executive, to express "in the strongest of terms" the Foundation's opposition to the relocation.

He said: "I have explained the need for a centrally located, suitably sized Post Office in the heart of the town centre and questioned whether the Post Office's financial appraisal of the present site has accurately reflected the impediment to redevelopment, created by the existence of restrictive covenants and our opposition to their removal.

"The Foundation will continue to do all it can to oppose this ill-advised relocation."

Hugh Harper, chairman of the Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Partnership, has added his voice in protest against the proposed relocation of the Post Office.

Speaking on Tuesday he said: "We wish to encourage the Post Office to leave this popular amenity where it is now - in the heart of Letchworth town centre."

Anybody who wants us to pass on their concerns to the Royal Mail Group can email us at editorial@thecomet.net or write to us at Post Office Campaign, The Comet, Bank House, Primett Road, Stevenage, SG1 3EE.

Speaking yesterday (Wednesday), a spokesman for the Post Office said that the situation has not changed since the announcement last week and no complaints have been made about the proposals.