POST Office bosses have refused to re-examine their 'unpopular' decision to close a well-respected branch in WGC. Handside post office, which was located in Huttons newsagents in Marsden Road, was axed in November, despite vehement protests from employees

POST Office bosses have refused to re-examine their "unpopular" decision to close a well-respected branch in WGC.

Handside post office, which was located in Huttons newsagents in Marsden Road, was axed in November, despite vehement protests from employees and residents.

Subsequently, Dr Dennis Lewis, who set up a council of war to fight the closure, has written to Post Office Ltd (POL) chairman Allan Leighton on numerous occasions and asked him to review the decision on the grounds the evidence for closing the branch was "factually inaccurate".

But Dr Lewis, a former borough councillor, has now learned his appeal for a review has been rejected.

In a letter seen by the WHT, Sue Huggins for POL, acknowledges the decision to shut Handside was "unpopular".

However, she said: "Decisions taken under the (network change) programme are difficult and, despite taking into account all submissions received, the scale of the closure of branches as directed by Government will inevitably result in decisions with which some of our customers may not agree.

"I have considered your request for a full review of the decision to close this branch but we are satisfied that the correct decision was made."

But a dogged Dr Lewis has refused to accept defeat and has vowed to battle on.

He pointed to a section of the letter which reads: "While POL takes very seriously the process of identifying and cross-checking the information we hold on branches at the early stages of the decision-making process in each area, sometimes our consultation materials may contain inadvertent errors."

He told the WHT: "There is an admission that they may have made errors."

And of his next plan of attack, he added: "I shall write back to Allan Leighton.

"I would like a reply on the basis of his consideration and not that of his officers.

"We fight on."

* You can still vote for Handside in the Post Office's best branch contest. Go to www.bestpostoffice.co.uk