More than 350 people packed St Wilfrid's community hall for the
meeting organised by lead campaigner Liz Spears.

Since the latest round of closures was announced in January, customers of the sub post office in The Ridgeway have rallied behind owner Depen Chadasama and his staff.

The Parklands post office is one of the busiest in Chichester district with 1,500 transactions a week. As well as being profitable, campaigners say it is a vital part of the community and would have a detrimental impact on the area if closed.

Elderly people, who make up much of the estate's population, would have to walk more than a mile to the facility in West Street. It would also affect business for other shops based in The Ridgeway parade.

Campaigners also said they are concerned the West Street branch, which takes 4,500 transactions, would not be able to cope with the extra business generated by the closure of Parklands and Sadlers Walk in East Street.

Chairman of Parklands Residents' Association, Richard Cole said there was a strong economic case for retaining Parklands and he was concerned Post Office plans were in direct opposition to government policy aimed at encouraging sustainable communities.

"We have shops, parks, a school, all within walking distance – it's a sustainable community. It is just the sort of thing that the government is urging us to have so why are they removing our post office?"

Parklands resident and social worker Elsa May said the closures would have an overwhelming impact on elderly people and the cutbacks were
'discriminatory'.

"For some people, if this post office closes, it will have such an impact.

"They won't be able to use the bus, the taxi will be too expensive, their friends won't have a car and family might not live near.

"At the point that happens, before you know it, the person is no longer leaving their home – all for the want of a little service."

Chichester MP Andrew Tyrie told the meeting he would be writing to postal services MP Pat McFadden and urged everyone to write letters to the various authorities involved. He said common sense was needed by the decision-makers.

"I do not want to the community damaged by the closure of this post office," he said.

"If we persevere in the right way and vigorously, we can get some common sense in this issue and make them realise this is a post office which they must keep open."

At the meeting Mrs Spears handed a petition containing 2,700 signatures to Mr Tyrie which will be given to Mr McFadden.

There are now four days left, including today, for people to register their comments.

Mrs Spears said: "I have been absolutely delighted by people's response. People of all political persuasions came together on Saturday to oppose the closure of Parklands. We need this post office to stay – it's the heart of our community."

After the meeting Mr Chadasama said: "The amount of support and backing from the local community has been really overwhelming. It's not just my business, it's the community's post office."