A dismayed Lynne Carruthers, who organised a petition three years ago to save Bramhope Post Office, with other customers Babbet Dhallai and Anita Tankard.

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ANGER and dismay has greeted the news that four of the area's Post Offices are on a hit list' of branches to be closed.

Under the proposals announced on Tuesday, Bramhope's only post office (PO) on The Parade along with Otley's Newall PO, Yeadon's Kirk Lane PO and Horsforth's Station Road branch will all shut.

Post Office Ltd says the move, part of a 22-branch closure plan for the Leeds area, is necessary as part of a national streamlining' drive to strengthen its remaining network.

But residents and politicians of all political hues are vowing to fight the closures.

In Otley the closing of Newall PO, on Weston Lane, means the town will be left with only one, central post office - a major inconvenience for people living on the north side of the river, like 83-year-old Peggy Sykes, of The Broadway.

She said: "I use it a lot and it is very well used by local residents, the elderly mostly although it's also used by young mothers and their babies, who can't get to town.

"This is terrible, disappointing and disgusting. It's a crying shame and I'm really upset about it and I know thousands will be. The PO is one of our lifelines and Sylvia (Thomson, the sub postmaster) is a friendly, helpful woman. She's a friend, not just a shopkeeper.

"Going there to get my pension is part of my weekly routine, although I can't get there under my own steam and have to be taken.

Newall Post Office in Otley - axed.

"When you're in the house a lot even going to the PO is an outing, and the people who make these decisions should consider that."

Seventy four year old Barbara Russell, of Bennett Court, Otley said: "This is dreadful and we are very much against it.

"We have around 56 residents here and quite a lot of us, including my sister Marjorie and I, use the Newall PO every week. We collect our pensions there, but not just our pensions, and Sylvia, the sub postmaster, is wonderful.

"I have used it for more than 50 years and it's terrible to think of it closing down. Quite a lot of the residents are angry over this. It would mean us having to go into town, and if you don't have your own car that means a lot of bother."

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) said: "I have difficulty understanding the logic in this decision and I'm sure there will be an angry reaction.

"It's a very popular little PO. And although it's probably only a 15-minute walk from there to the central PO, if you live at the end of Weston estate it's a half hour walk.

"People who make these decisions don't really have to deal with the consequences and don't know the area.

"There is, notionally, a consultation process and I would urge everybody to respond to that and maybe we can get a change of heart."

Villagers in Bramhope, meanwhile - including businesses neighbouring the PO like Natural Beauty, which uses it every day - were reeling at a decision that will leave them having to travel to Pool-in-Wharfedale, Adel or Otley for postal services.

Lynne Carruthers, of Parklands, organised a petition calling for Bramhope PO to be reopened after a six-month closure back in 2006.

She said: "I and many others use Bramhope PO a lot and I'm very disappointed. We didn't expect it to be on the closure list and I think we should try to fight the decision.

"There was a lot of support for the original campaign, which MP Greg Mulholland supported, so perhaps we'll look to him to do that again."

Ward and Parish Councillor Clive Fox (Con, Adel and Wharfedale) said: "This follows the sudden temporary closure of the PO two or three years ago to allow various alleged irregularities to be investigated. It eventually re-opened but in reality the PO at Bramhope has never fully recovered.

"Throughout this time the nationwide PO closure programme has been hanging over everything leaving people half-expecting the worst but hoping we might just escape.

"Bramhope people will fight to retain their PO, which is so important to the community, especially for elderly residents and those relying on public transport.

"It simply isn't realistic to suggest that Pool, Adel or Otley provide adequate alternative facilities. That is something which must be stated again and again during the consultation period."

There was better news for Pool-in-Wharfedale, however, whose PO was also considered under threat but was not named on the list.

"I would add, amidst the doom and gloom, that I am pleased to see that Pool has been able to retain its PO, not least because it is effectively the only village shop remaining and the loss of the PO would have significantly undermined the viability of the business."

Coun Fox and Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leeds North West, Julia Mulligan, are organising a petition against the closure.

Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel and Wharfedale), meanwhile, is calling for all the political parties to bury their differences and work together to fight the closures, claiming that is the only way to succeed.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland said: "The news that these POs are on the list of closures is a huge blow for the area.

"In the case of Bramhope, in particular, it is a real shock, especially as we fought so hard to get it reopened after the recent problems there.

"Hundreds of local residents depend upon these POs and the services that they provide. This is devastating news for them, particularly for elderly residents, who are simply not able to travel for miles to reach another branch.

"The Government needs to recognise this, and move urgently to stop these closures."

Customers at Horsforth's Station Road PO were shocked at the news - and stressed the branch was both busy and popular.

School teacher Beverley Curbison, 35, said: "I use it all the time. I can even catch it on my way back from work because it's open till 5.30pm.

"The one at Cookridge is small - but this one is almost like a main post office.

"It's always busy and there are often queues. They are really lovely there and nothing is too much trouble for them."

Lisa Archer, who works at nearby letting agent Linley and Simpson, said: "It would be a nightmare for us. We're always coming here.

"I know there is one on Town Street but it is quite a walk - it'll be quite inconvenient really going down there."

In Yeadon it is feared the closure of the Kirk Lane PO could be a particularly hard blow to elderly people.

One 73-year-old local resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It doesn't matter to me because we have got a car and I can go to Guiseley and Yeadon or anywhere else. But I feel sorry for the elderly people who can't do that.

"It is well used, and on pension days they are queuing outside the door."

Aerospace engineer Simon Chatfield, 40, said: "It would be a serious pain if it closed. I work nights and it's very handy for me for do anything I need to do on the way to work.

"It will make life a lot more inconvenient for elderly people where I used to live - on Westfield Avenue - because they will have to go on a bus to Guiseley or on a hopper to the Morrisons complex."

l A six-week consultation period will now take place for all the POs listed to close.

Comments should be sent to: Adrian Wales, Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd, C/O National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM; e-mail: consultation@postoffice.co.uk

5:11pm Thursday 15th May 2008

Station Road Post Office in Horsforth - axed

Kirk Lane Post Office in Yeadon - axed

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