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Campaigners deliver message with march
SHEFFIELD city centre rang with chants of 'Save Our Post Offices' on Saturday afternoon as people took to the streets in protest at the proposals to close 16 branches across Sheffield.
The day after a petition containing more than 18,000 signatures opposing the moves was handed in at Downing Street, crowds marched from Barker's Pool down Fargate carrying placards and banners demanding the services remain open.
Leading the way was Alistair Tice, spokesman for Sheffield Campaign Against Post Office Closures, who began the chants through a megaphone and encouraged shoppers to join in with the march.
Residents of all ages took part, some carrying Save Our Post Offices balloons, and others with banners with messages including 'Put The People's Post Office Before Profit'.
Among them was pensioner Dennis King, of Harvey Clough Road, Norton Lees, whose nearest post office on Derbyshire Lane is under threat.
The 84-year-old widower said: "If it closed the nearest one would be Woodseats but that's up a hill and would mean catching a bus – and if anyone took me there in the car there's nowhere to stop anyway.
"I get my pension there, I post my letters – everything I need I can get from there and I can't understand why they are wanting to close it. I don't think they should for the customers and the people who work in there as well."
Andrea Barrott, from Sheffield Pensioners' Action Group, was calling for her local branch at Wadsley Bridge to stay open.
She said: "There are hundreds of people who must use that branch – we certainly do. The alternative one is in Hillsborough but that's a bus ride away for the elderly and it's a big inconvenience.
"I think the plans are disgusting – especially where it will leave people having to walk up hills to get to the Post Office."
Colin Wray, aged 25, from Crookes, has been involved in the campaign for the past 12 months. He said the rally had been organised to call on the council to tell the public what else they plan to do to stop the closures.
"We are putting pressure on to get some answers about what they are actually going to do," he said. "These closures will affect the most vulnerable in society and will have a really serious impact on their lives."
And Ali Hunter, who brought up the front of the march in her motorised scooter, said she was particularly worried about the effect the closures would have on disabled residents.
"People will become more isolated without this community resource available to them," she said.
"For example, how would a partially sighted or blind person build up trust with a staff member in a city centre branch who changes each time they visit?"
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
