Anger over basement post office

A post office which was moved to a shop basement is proving hard for disabled users to access, it has been claimed. The Bishop Street post office in Leicester closed and the new branch opened in Gallowtree Gate's WH Smith.

Opponents of the move said the lack of parking and stairs made it hard for those with physical impairments to use. Royal Mail said it appreciated any change was difficult for some customers but added the branch complies with the Disability Discrimination Act.

In a statement, a spokesman added: "Local feedback confirms that the new arrangement is working well for the majority of customers. By relocating the post office and entering into a partnership with WH Smith we have been able to secure the future of main post office services for the people of Leicester. This has to be good news for customers at a time when many post office branches are under threat."

One female customer said: "I don't like it at all. I think it's dangerous in the basement. I'm partially sighted, so I can't manage stairs very well and it was so simple in Bishop Street."

Royal Mail plans to move more than 70 branches into WH Smith stores across the country. The company has said the move would put branches on a "sound financial footing, after many years of heavy losses".