Since I last wrote on this subject I have visited most of the eight branches threatened with closure.

I knew that these post offices are relied upon by local residents, but chatting to customers, staff and sub-post masters and mistresses made me realise just how much and just how much closure would impact on people's daily lives.

The Station Road and Warnham branches are particularly relied upon by the residents of nearby sheltered accommodation.

Closure of these post offices would mean they would really struggle to access alternative branches. Some customers I spoke to were really very distressed about this.

It's not just elderly people or those with mobility problems that will be severely affected. In the past couple of weeks I have spoken to and received letters from lots of small business owners who rely on access to their local branch.

This particularly affects mail order companies – of which there are many in our local area. If these businesses suffer our local economy will suffer.

It's also become quite clear that the closure of any or all of the central Horsham branches would have a massive impact on the main post office in the Carfax. 

People already routinely wait in line for an hour, with the queue stretching outside the building.
 
Any money saved by the closures – about which I'm sceptical anyway – would be more than offset by the investment needed to enlarge the Carfax Post Office. Already overstretched, it would be overwhelmed with the additional customers.

Of course, customers forced to come into the centre of Horsham would incur parking or other transport costs and there's the additional factor of the extra traffic congestion this could cause.

These concerns have been emphasised time and time again in the letters I have received since my recent appeal in the County Times for readers to get in touch with me and outline their fears and concerns.

The consultation is the only opportunity we have to explain exactly why our post offices should remain open.

But the clock is ticking and the consultation comes to an end on Christmas Eve.

So if you are able, I'd urge you to put pen to paper or email Post Office Ltd and make your views heard.