Sir – The announcement that Post Office Ltd intends to close the Marsden Road sub-post office has caused much anxiety and dismay – particularly among the elderly in the Handside area which it serves. Noted for its efficiency and the quality of service

Sir - The announcement that Post Office Ltd intends to close the Marsden Road sub-post office has caused much anxiety and dismay - particularly among the elderly in the Handside area which it serves. Noted for its efficiency and the quality of service (it has earned awards over the years) it provides not just a post office facility, but it is also a vital social focus for our community. When I was a councillor I was often approached by my constituents who had problems which we discussed, after they had collected their pensions, sent parcels or bought stamps.

It is difficult to understand what Post Office Ltd aims to achieve by announcing a six-week "consultation". I suspect that this may be no more than a cosmetic exercise to try to soften the blow. However it is vital that as many people as possible respond to this invitation and write to Post Office Ltd expressing in the strongest possible terms their objections to the proposed closure and giving the reasons why.

I have already received copies of some letters that have been sent by individuals living in the Handside ward.

This is a call to action. We MUST mobilise the whole community. Thousands of objections must be sent to Post Office Ltd. We must show that we care.

The demonstration and march organised by Richard Edlin and the MP a couple of weeks ago was a good start.

But now we need concerted action, so I have suggested that a "council of war" be set up which will fight this monstrous decision. So far I have the agreement of our MP, Grant Shapps, two Handside ward borough councillors - Helen Bromley and Tony Skottowe - and of course, our popular Richard Edlin.

I have suggested that this group coordinates action to fight this decision and puts forward an unanswerable case for keeping our post office OPEN.

To that end we will gather evidence to show that Post Office Ltd will be making a hideous mistake if they close our post office. Although it is clear to anyone with a grain of sense that the social consequences of closure are dire, only hard, statistical facts will persuade Post Office Ltd of the error of their ways.

If anyone knows of particular instances where a fight against closure has been successful please get in touch with me - 01707 324048 or dennis.lewis@tiscali.co.uk.

Dr Dennis Lewis, The Links, WGC.

Sir - Re: Proposed closure of Marsden Road sub-post office

The AGM of the Welwyn Garden City Society was held last Wednesday evening and one of the hotly debated items was the announcement through your paper that morning of the proposed closure of the sub-post office in Marsden Road.

The meeting was outraged and could not understand what rationale could possibly be used to take this decision as it is well used by an ageing community which would find difficulty in getting either to Peartree sub-post office or the main post office in WGC town centre, thus adding to congestion on the roads around both of them.

I was asked to write to your newspaper after the following resolution was agreed: "The meeting expressed its dismay at the closure of post offices in general and wants the closure decision for the sub-post office in Marsden Road to be reversed".

John Marks, Welwyn Garden City Society.