Post Office closures: Council Leader delivers two damning letters signed by local MPs

23rd May, 2025

When the Post Office in Hounslow town centre closed without warning, residents were left completely in the dark, suddenly finding themselves without any nearby Post Office. Now the same thing has happened in Chiswick.

Chiswick residents hoping to visit the Post Office on Heathfield Terrace were met with a sign, which blamed the closure on technical issues and encouraged customers to use other branches – none of which were in the Borough.

Back in December, the Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, signed a joint letter with Ruth Cadbury MP about the closure of the Hounslow branch. The letter asked why no one at the Council had been informed and asked for an urgent meeting to discuss the impact of the closure on residents. No satisfactory response was received and the Post Office did not accept their offer of a meeting.

Following the Chiswick closure, Cllr Rajawat wrote another letter with Hammersmith and Chiswick MP, Andy Slaughter.

The letter contained reference to the previous closure, as well as voicing deep concern about the impact these unannounced closures were having on Chiswick and Hounslow residents:

“As previously, this closure [in Chiswick] has taken place, with no prior warning to, or discussion with us, and at extremely short notice.

“Also – as previously – this does serious damage and causes upset to local communities who rely on the provision of these services.

“…We have very serious concerns about both these closures, the way in which the Post Office has carried them out, and how the Post Office is treating its customers and stakeholders.

“We are therefore calling once again for urgent talks to find a way to provide the proper support to the affected communities in Hounslow and Chiswick. As we have said before, we want to better understand the process and challenges and may also be able to provide the Post Office with insight or advice to help find a solution.”

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, commented that:

“One unannounced Post Office closure is an inconvenience. To close two looks like carelessness. Many residents in Chiswick and Hounslow rely on their local Post Office, and to close the branches without warning has left them with lots of questions and concerns about the future of the service.

“We went to great lengths to extend our support and inquire as to the reason for the Hounslow closure. We did not receive a satisfactory reply, and our offer of a meeting went unanswered. I now hope for a quick response to the issues we have raised, along with our two local MPs. Let’s work together on this and restore for residents the services on which they rely.”