Balham pensioners have come out fighting for their local post office which is likely to close this year.

Tooting MP Sadiq Khan came to the branch on Monday to campaign to keep it open after a huge response from his constituents.

Michael Varchinnone, 72, said he and his wife had been coming into the post office at 258, Balham High Road for 30 years.

He said: "If it closed it would not be good at all. We are elderly and I am disabled. It would be very difficult for me to go all the way up to the other one in Balham High Road.

"We know the people in there by first name. There are lots of old people who rely on this place."

Sandra Plowman, a pensioner who lives nearby said: "It's a great shame these small local places have to close. I think the other branch up the road will be very busy, because we have got to go somewhere."

How can I help?



Eight post offices in Wandsworth are set to shut as part of a nationwide closure programme by Post office Ltd because of mounting losses and falling customer numbers.

You can take part in Post Office Ltd's public consultation in a number of ways:

  • Sign the Wandsworth Borough News petition at your newsagent
  • Sign petitions at your post office
  • Fill in the postcards distributed to homes by Wandsworth Council and return them free of charge
  • Contact your MP
  • Write to National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM (no stamp is required) - Call 08457 22 33 44 or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk.

Sadiq Khan is collecting names on petitions and surveys from local residents to present to Post Office Ltd before it makes a final decision.

He said: "I will be doing everything in my power to prevent the closure of this Post Office."

"Great tribute should be paid to the local residents and businesses that have participated in the consultation and are helping to build up a strong case to save their local post office."