I WISH to register my strong objection to the proposal to move Catshill Post Office from its current location in Meadow Road to the One Stop convenience store in Woodrow Lane.

To close the Meadow Road post office would be detrimental to the village character of Catshill.

The post office has been in its current location for as long as I can remember – I’m now 67 – and is an integral part of the village, which has already suffered greatly by the substitution of traditional retail shops by fast food outlets and convenience stores.

Additionally, the One Stop shop in Woodrow Lane is situated on a junction with a right angled bend opposite which is part of a bus route and which buses frequently have difficulty negotiating due to the traffic congestion caused by customer parking and delivery vehicles outside and opposite the premises.

To add the vehicle traffic created by the post office to the existing traffic volume would result in considerable traffic chaos in an already congested area.

It is contended that the proposed move would result in extended opening hours for post office counter services but I seriously doubt this would be of advantage to the majority of post office users, many of whom find much needed social interaction when collecting their pensions etc at a traditional post office.

Also, the current One Stop shop attracts, in common with other convenience stores, congregation of youths outside the premises as soon as darkness falls.

While I would not seek to adversely comment on the behaviour of such groups, their very presence could be intimidating to elderly or vulnerable people, thus obviating any advantage of extended hours.

SUSAN HOLBECHE Catshill