A POPULAR central post office is entering its final days of trading, despite valiant attempts to save it. The branch on Broadway, Letchworth GC, is due to close at the end of trading next Wednesday, November 22. A smaller franchised branch will open the f

A POPULAR central post office is entering its final days of trading, despite valiant attempts to save it.

The branch on Broadway, Letchworth GC, is due to close at the end of trading next Wednesday, November 22.

A smaller franchised branch will open the following day in McColl's in Station Road.

After Post Office Ltd announced plans to close the branch earlier this year, The Comet, along with Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, North East Herts MP Oliver Heald, district councillors and Letchworth Garden City Council fought hard to stop the move.

The general consensus was that the new branch was too small to cope with the number of customers and too far away from the central bus stops, especially for its many elderly customers.

The Comet delivered more than 80 letters from readers objecting to the move to Post Office Ltd, but it rode roughshod over public opinion and opted to close the branch anyway.

Speaking this week about the imminent closure, Mr Heald said: "I'm just very disappointed that Post Office Ltd has decided to close this much-needed facility in the centre of Letchworth.

"I know the many local residents will be greatly inconvenienced having to travel to the edge of the industrial area for basic services.

"This will particularly hit the elderly and vulnerable."

Tony Wickham, chairman of Letchworth Garden City Council, said: "This is a sad day for Letchworth Garden City and all the people who use the Crown Post Office.

"The new facility is a poor substitute for the real thing and will just not meet the requirements of the community."

Stuart Kenny, director general of the heritage foundation, said: "I would be delighted if all of us who have opposed this relocation were proved wrong, but I suspect that we won't be.

"Looking to the future in the context of our proposed town centre revitalisation, the heritage foundation will continue to try to find a solution which is better for Post Office customers.

"Last, but not least, thank you to all the post office staff who, over the years, have given the people of the garden city a first-class service.