New Post Office call by city MPs

Pavilion MP David Lepper is asking the Post Office to allow a sub-post office to remain in the Lanes when the Ship Street premises closes to move to Churchill Square.

The Labour and Co-operative MP is asking the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, Alan Cook, to allow shopkeeper Yousef Falasten to run a post office counter in his Seaside News shop at Brighton Square, when the Crown Post Office transfers to WH Smith's in Churchill Square.

David has campaigned against the Ship Street closure which is part of a national deal between the Post Office and the retailer.

The Post Office at Ship Street is due to close

Traders’ groups in the Lanes and North Laine and the North Laine Community Association have also protested because it will mean there is no Post Office in that central part of Brighton.

David Lepper says:

" Many of us have fought the closure. I'm still not convinced it is a good deal for customers - especially those who are disabled or have push chairs because WH Smith's basement does not have easy access from the ground floor.
"But if the closure is to go ahead businesses and residents in the Lanes as well as its many visitors should still have a post office near at hand if Mr Falasten's offer is taken up.
"All he is asking for is the equivalent of one post office counter space."

Yousef Falasten lives in the Hove constituency of Celia Barlow MP and she is backing his request. Celia Barlow said:

“Mr. Falasten is a well known and respected shopkeeper who just wants to improve on the service he provides to his local community. Lots of constituents have asked me to keep our local post offices open in Hove and Portslade.
"Mr. Falasten wants to go one better and improve post office services by providing another counter. It's bureaucracy gone mad if he's not allowed to do this just because he's a small businessman not a big business chain."