At least all the queues will make Smiths look busy and no doubt there are plenty of magazines and newspapers to keep people occupied whilst they wait. A bit like having a range of sweets at supermarket check out tills. Perhaps someone will even read a complete novel whilst they wait to post their parcels, thereby improving their literacy. And with all that queuing maybe people will even be reduced to talking to each other. Who knows what this plan will do for community development and cohesion in Forest Hill.

I had to use the post office/newsagent/everything else shop in Forest Hill Road a few weeks ago and in a very small space there were three different tills, ie one for the Lottery only, one for the Post Office Counters only, and one for Everything Else. Needless to say I managed to get into the wrong queue twice. It therefore took me 20 minutes to buy a book of stamps and an envelope and then I had to get into the third queue to post it by registered post.

What I find confusing is the spate of TV ads for Post Office Counter services which is being rolled out as they make these cuts....