STAFF and customers have reacted with disgust and disappointment to the news that Trafford Park Post Office is to close.

Post Watch, the independent watchdog for postal services, launched a review of the proposal to close the branch after an initial six-week consultation finished on July 21.

But despite widespread opposition from customers, the decision to close the facility was upheld. It is not yet known when it will shut.

Harry Keene, 66, has been working for the Post Office for 51 years, 15 of which were based at Trafford Park.

He said he is "disgusted" at the closure.

"There are certain things about this office which are unique," he added. "We are not a normal post office that hands out pensions – we are more on the business side. There are 55,000 people working in this park, and there are many businesses that use us three or four times a day."

Unlike most other post offices, the branch is open from 6.30am to 5.30pm, has its own car park, and regularly deals with a high level of international postage, franking and HGV licences.

Paul Callaghan of the nearby heritage centre St Anthony’s, said it was a real loss to an area that will struggle to cope with the potential impact of the congestion charge.

He said: "We are obviously very disappointed for many reasons, not least because it is a profitable operation.

"Many companies in the area have specialist requirements that they can’t get from high street post offices. The increase in people travelling will add to peak-time traffic. There is an ease of facility and familiarity with customers. Everyone has got a very good working relationship."

He added that the suggested alternatives have "significant drawbacks."

"We have major reservations about the Trafford Centre post office," he said.

"Exchange Quay doesn’t have any parking and people have to pay to use the facilities there. The Arndale Centre branch couldn’t cope with a large number of business customers. The Barton Road branch is a couple of miles away from here – getting to and from there can take up valuable staff time – and the Urmston branch is based in a town centre that is heavily congested at the best of times."

Post offices in Northenden Road, Sale, and Canterbury Road, Urmston, shut in August.

A Post Office spokesman said the decision had not been taken lightly and that customers would still have access to postal services.

They added: "It is situated within the boundaries of a large industrial estate. There are several alternative branches around the periphery of the estate which provide access to Post Office products and services from all parts of the estate.

"In total there are 23 branches within a three-mile radius of this post office."

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