AS frequent users of both the St John s Street Post Office and of the High Street, Ely post office we are writing to add to the many protests opposing the proposed closure of the St John s Road Post Office. Please consider the following comments: Both t

AS frequent users of both the St John's Street Post Office and of the High Street, Ely post office we are writing to add to the many protests opposing the proposed closure of the St John's Road Post Office.

Please consider the following comments:

Both these post offices are heavily used. Long queues are always the case at the High Street Post Office and the St John's Post Office always has someone waiting to be served.

Closure of the St John's Road Post Office would result in the loss of an essential facility to the local community and could result in the eventual closure of a much-used local shop.

The resultant extra demand on the High Street Post Office would lead to considerable inconvenience to customers. The office is already overused. We have experienced waiting times of 20 minutes and a 10-minute wait is often the case.

The building at the High Street is inadequate and very user-unfriendly. The staff are extremely poorly housed and can only be praised for working so well in the conditions. Any potential customer for non-essential services, which the Royal Mail advertise at, no doubt, high cost, would certainly go to a more congenial supplier.

It is only the exceptionally good service given by all the staff at both the offices that makes a visit bearable. It is amazing that in one of the richest countries in the world that both the customer and the staff are treated so shabbily.

Finally, the Royal Mail complains that its income makes these closures necessary. Why not increase its income by increasing the charges to the bulk mail business? As the sole provider of countrywide door-to-door deliveries they can and should make these services more profitable. Why not?

FRANK and MARGARET BOWLES

Lynn Road

Ely.