Richmond Road Shops & Post Office Update

At CARA we are very keen to see the continued presence and support of the parade of shops adjacent to our area along the Richmond Road.

Over the last two years we have been working with the Council and local businesses to deliver a range of improvements to improve the image of the area in order to encourage additional trade and provide a more vibrant amenity for local residents. Much of the work has been made possible by the provision of grants made available from TFL (Transport for London).

Last year the Council carried out a package of Highway improvements to roads adjacent to the parade. These included new entry treatments, corrections to pavements, the removal of unnecessary street furniture (bollards, signs etc) and improved signage for the FREE one hour shopper parking. Just before Christmas the contractors started work on the second phase which has resulted in the removal of a largely unused advertising hoarding; the planting of four trees outside Nos. 127 -141 Richmond Road and the installation of new cycle stands.

At the same time we appreciate the efforts of many of our local traders in support of the improvements being made. Please support them by spending some money locally!

Whilst not to everyones taste it is a shame that the BetRouge bookmakers has moved on. It is also regrettable that as part the Post Office restructuring programme, the Chestnut Grove post office on the corner of Chestnut Road and Richmond Road has along with 169 other of the capital's 850 post offices been earmarked for closure. There will be a period of consultation regarding this but on the evidence of the recent branch access survey, it is felt that the post offices opposite Sainsburys and the one on Kings Road offer sufficient alternative amenity.

However, we're not so sure the amenity of the post office itself is not being treated in an equitable manner under the assessment.

In relation to the other two alternative branches compared to it at 76 Richmond Road and most significantly the one at 161 Park Road we noted the following:

• Chestnut Grove Post Office (CGPO) is open longer than the Kings Road branch (46.5 hours compared to 37.5)
• Has two serving positions compared to Kings Road's one
• Serves between 100 and 250 more people a week
• Serves a larger population than the Kings Road Branch (38658 v 36270)
• Has unique free parking next to the branch - both other branches only have pay parking available nearby
  
• Has free disabled parking in the adjacent street
• In terms of disabled access, CGPO has no restrictions (the others have a step or an entrance strip).

Contrary to the report we would also comment that:

• CGPO offers additional service in terms of stationery products and a reasonably popular internet cafe facility which is used during the day by passing traffic and local students.
  
• The branch is in fact on a local Bus Route - the Number 65 which is a 24 hour service run every 7 minutes on average by TFL (albeit we have already had discussions re the re-siting of adjacent bus stops to the parade as previously mentioned).
• The buses all have good disabled low floor access and offer concession for children those over 60 years of age.

Such information appears to have been completely left out the report published on the Post Office web site. Furthermore we would like many other have, comment that:

• CGPO is a key stone store for the rest of the parade. People visit there to conduct business and then go to the florist, butcher, newsagent, cafe etc.
• Without it, there is a risk that other shops may suffer in a similar way to when the chemist relocated into the Sainsburys store.
• Unlike Kings Road, the CGPO acts as an amenity for these local businesses as well many of the local residents who work from home from time to time. Again quantifying the use by organisations and businesses from the tennis clubs, the Pavilion, the pubs, Creed Miles, the shops to the photographer etc. would set it far apart in terms of usefulness from the Kings Road branch.

And finally this Post Office, unlike the other one at 76 Richmond Road, has a post box!!!

Let us try and keep it for the good of the community. If you would like to comment on the Post Office closure please let us know by visiting the Discussion section on the CARA Community Hub.