Angry entertainer adds voice to public outcry | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Well-known entertainer Janice Gray is backing a community battle to stop Linwood’s Post Shop and Kiwibank facilities from closing.

The post and Kiwibank bill paying services are currently offered from Stanmore Book and Post Shop. However, these are due to close next month as part of a New Zealand Post network review.

Singer, actor and debater Janice Gray has lived in Linwood for 27 years and described planned changes as an "invasive procedure".

"I think it is a disservice to the people of the area," she said.

Last week a petition with 2144 signatures was presented to NZ Post’s acting chief executive Sam Knowles and, yesterday, residents were scheduled to gather for the second of two public meetings to protest the plans.

Ms Gray said they were willing to "do anything" to stop the services from closing. "We’ll probably end up doing a nude protest, now that the weather is warmer," she said.

New Zealand Post group manager Michelle van Gaalen understood the community’s response.

"We acknowledge that changes like these can inconvenience some people and understand they have strong feelings towards services they have become used to," she said.

However, stores were located to serve the majority of customers, said Ms van Gaalen. There was no possibility of New Zealand Post reconsidering its plan to close services at the branch, she said.

"Our decision has been made and it won’t change."

Ms Gray said the closure would force locals to travel much further to other New Zealand Post outlets at The Palms or Eastgate Shopping Centre.

"And there are some people who will not be able to do that."

Spokeswoman for the Keep Stanmore Rd NZ Post/Kiwi Bank Open Action Group Jenny Smith agreed, saying the closure would particularly affect the elderly, disabled, unemployed, retired, those in poor health and single parents.

"This will push many residents into greater poverty and more hardship," she said.

The Stanmore Rd bookstore has been offered the opportunity to become a post centre from October.

If it accepts, postal services will continue to operate from the store, but customers would need to go to other Post Shops for bill services and Kiwibank transactions.

Concerned residents have also started writing letters to New Zealand Post and the Minister for State Owned Enterprises expressing their concern.