MORE than 100 furious campaigners staged a march against the

threatened closure of a Plympton post office – and then each

queued for a stamp.

The protest was designed to show how the post office in the

Ridgeway would be besieged by new customers if Post Office Ltd

decides to pull the plug on the Underwood branch.

It was also designed to demonstrate the route pensioners,

mums with prams and disabled people would have to traipse up

and down hill and across a busy road.

Despite organisers limiting the protest to 40 people, more

than 100 turned up at the Underwood branch yesterday.

They set off on the 0.6-mile route to the Ridgeway, and 18

minutes later began queuing.

Each protester bought a stamp and it took 30 minutes for the

queue to disappear.

South West Devon MP Gary Streeter called the protest 'very

effective'.

He said: “People in wheelchairs, or those who can't walk

well, simply can't get to the Ridgeway, there's no bus

service.”

Postmistress Pauline Kadoche said she was 'knocked out by

the turnout'.

“It's been fantastic,” she added. “Gary Streeter has done a

fantastic job.”

Underwood is one of seven Plymouth branches included on an

official hit-list by Post Office Ltd. Good reasons need to be

given for why they should stay open.

Underwood protesters say they have them: the long slog to

the Ridgeway, lack of parking in that area and no bus service

to the heart of Plympton. They also say the Ridgeway branch

would be overloaded with customers.

Protester Barbara Price, 67, from Dudley Road, carried a

sign calling for the 'people's post office' to be saved.

She said: “The community needs a post office, the same as it

needs a school, police station, church and pub.”

Peter Harris, 68, from Dingle Road, said he used Underwood

because the Ridgeway is already too busy.

“You have a 45-minute wait there,” he said.

Helen Nicholas, 36, from Underwood Road, joined the march

with her 11-month-old twins Harry and Oliver.

She highlighted the Ridgeway's steep gradient and said:

“Pushing the pram up the hill is an absolute killer.”

George Lemon, 67, from Underwood Road, said: “To expect

people to walk this distance is totally unacceptable.”

Ann Roe, 67, from Underwood Road, stressed the Ridgeway hill

would be treacherous when icy in winter.

“I drive, but where can you park?” she asked.

Retired union officer Bill Goffin, 72, from Underlane, said

he will contact city MPs to call for an inquiry into whether

Post Office Ltd has any agreements with supermarket chains

which house branches he said were not under threat.

“Is there a special arrangement?” he asked.

Plympton Erle's Tory councillor Terri Beer said she will

raise a motion at full council asking for the authority to

oppose the closure of any city post offices. She warned: “The

impact it (closures) will have on local communities and

businesses will be tremendous.”

Last night, the Underwood protesters were staging a public

meeting at St Mary's Church Hall, to which they had invited

Post Office Ltd.