POST Office User (Letters, January 14) gives recognition to the efforts of staff at the Prestwich branch where, due to the closure of several sub offices, they now suffer the burden of an increased workload and extra pressures to serve more customers.

Likewise, Ivan Lewis MP and myself, as chairman of the PVRA, acknowledged the contribution of all staff at the branch when we met with the Post Office representative.

However, last week's letter is misguided in suggesting that parking provision is the only concern of those arguing for Prestwich Post Office's relocation (although those customers who drop by for stamps only to return to their car to find a £30 ticket slapped on the windscreen, may beg to differ).

The point is that Prestwich Post Office is an albatross of a building, located away from the main throng of shops and local businesses.

It offers no provision for parking and to access it by foot involves crossing the busy (and dangerous) Bury New Road. Just ask the mother struggling with her children and bags of shopping, or the OAP who has to contend with a trek from the Longfield Centre! Local residents endure an endless stream of traffic as customers battle to park nearby; delivery vans screech down the road at all hours, and to park outside your own home is a luxury!

However, alongside our local MP the PVRA recognises the importance of the post office as an essential service to the people of Prestwich. Consequently, we are working together towards a positive way forward through dialogue with the Post Office hierarchy; a dialogue which the PVRA asked the Prestwich Area Board to support but which, under the self proclaimed control of the Liberal Democrats, was not forthcoming.

Furthermore, the PVRA has stressed the importance of the post offices's future to be integrated into the Prestwich Community Plan; something in which local people can have a say.

Now is the perfect opportunity for the Post Office to bring its Prestwich branch into the 21st century and to be part of this exciting period of change. It is also time for certain elected representatives of Prestwich Area Board to contribute in a dialogue with the Post Office and to offer civic leadership, something somewhat lacking whilst they boast of having political control but no focus or direction!

However, the PVRA is happy to lead the way alongside our MP if it means contributing to a positive outcome for residents of Prestwich - and that means the relocation of an albatross into a flagship Post Office branch.

DARRELL JOHNSON,

chairman,

Prestwich Village

Regeneration Association.