Civic building could house post office

12:11pm Wednesday 21st May 2008

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HARROW Council could open a new post office in one of its buildings if planned branch closures go through.

The council is looking at the idea of running their own branch following Post Office Ltd's announcement that it is closing five branches in the borough and 155 across the capital.

Councillor David Ashton, leader of the council, said a study into the feasibility of the idea is currently being conducted.

However, he said the council does not know where a new branch might be or how much it would cost the taxpayer.

He said: "Post Office Ltd is closing them because it is finding them expensive to run.

"We have to find a way of making it cost-effective."

Any new post office could be in a council building, such as a library, but it is not clear whether it would be near any of the five branches which are closing down.

The council's idea has won the backing of Boris Johnson, newly-elected Mayor of London, who has threatened legal action against Post Office Ltd over the closures.

In a reply to Cllr Ashton, Mr Johnson wrote: "I will support new ideas which have been put forward by some local councils, who have called for local authorities to house post offices within properties they own such as libraries and other civic buildings."