After more than a year of waiting, Walworth residents have been told by Royal Mail that its Crampton Street sorting office will close “over the summer”.
The nearest office will now be in Mandela Way, Bermondsey, but the company said there “are not expected to be job losses” among its 57 Walworth staff.
It is understood that Royal Mail will soon apply for outline planning permission to increase the site’s land value, before selling it to a housing developer.
Jeremy Leach, chair of the Walworth Society, told the News: “In spite of the reassurances the Royal Mail are giving, people in the Walworth area extremely concerned the sudden loss of a sorting office that most people can easily walk to.
“It’s another blow, along with the loss of the town hall and the threat to the [Walworth Road] Post Office. It’s another worrying loss to the Walworth area.”
Jeremy reiterated that the closure will most inconvenience those who have trouble with mobility or rely on the use of their cars.
The Royal Mail was unable confirm a date for closure.
A statement from the company said there will be “no impact” on deliveries by postmen and women.
The statement said: “As a commercial business, Royal Mail is responding to the huge growth in electronic communications and decline in letter volumes, while seeing a high volume of parcels and online shopping which need to be delivered to customers.
“Royal Mail can now leave many mail items with a neighbour if customers are not at home when we attempt delivery. Customers can nominate a dedicated neighbour to take in their parcels. Customers can also arrange a redelivery on a day that is convenient for them (including Saturdays), or Royal Mail can deliver the item to a different address.”
The Royal Mail has also yet to confirm a date for the closure of its delivery office in East Dulwich. The company announced in February that it was in discussions with the Communications Workers Union about moving operations to its office in Highshore Road, Peckham, but assured none of the 37 East Dulwich staff would be made redundant.