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Urban post offices are our ‘social glue’ as well
• JANET Street Porter writing in the Independent of Sunday this week refers to rural post offices as “a unique example of social glue” and commends the four million-signature petition (the largest ever) that was handed in to Downing Street by the enormous demonstration against the closure of rural post offices.
But what of town post offices in areas such as ours? Here also there is isolation of the elderly and infirm people, battling to stay independent, and of those for whom the effort of coping with urban life and transport (eg crossing Finchley Road) is becoming impossible.
When you are 90 and “still keeping going” physically, the inducement of a short easy walk to local shops and the post office can be a lifeline.
Let’s face it, we are an aging population, many of us living in cities where isolation can be extreme. However computer literate people may or may not be, face-to-face contact is needed to maintain social well-being.
Whatever form it takes, it is the basis of the “social glue” that keeps people sane. And it is the stuff of local communities. Any dumbing down of local life can only lead to stagnation. It is short-sighted of our rulers to allow such simple forms of cohesion to wither away.
We want our post offices back on Haverstock Hill and Belsize Village. Look out for posters about a local demonstration taking place on Saturday December 9.
Mary Shenai
Belsize Park, NW3
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