Saving Chiswick Post Office for residents and businesses

Cllr Joanna Biddolph and Cllr Peter Thompson outside the closed post office, each holding packages and envelopes they need to post and bills that need to be paid, illustrating some of the impact of the closure of the post office.

In a surprise twist, Post Office Ltd has announced it will be moving Chiswick Post Office into Robert Dyas and has delivered flyers to Robert Dyas and to the post office. Again, no warning was given; it emerged by stealth as seems to be best practice for Post Office Ltd. Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors will meet the two current postmasters urgently to find out what is happening and consider next steps needed to defend residents' wishes for a stand-alone post office in Chiswick with the full range of services residents and businesses have used for many years. 

Second campaign

Post Office consultation details:

Media coverage

First campaign

Chiswick Post Office closed without warning one day in May 2025. No-one knows exactly when as it happened by stealth. The doors were closed. Customers only found out when they went to the post office intending to use its services. As soon as Cllr Joanna Biddolph discovered it had been closed, she contacted the postmaster to ask what was going on and how she could help. The post office is a fundamental service for a town of around 50,000 residents and about 13,000 businesses including light industrial companies, and big brand corporates, on Chiswick High Road, Turnham Green Terrace, Devonshire Road, Power Road and other shopping or office-based roads, as well as in Chiswick Tower and Chiswick Business Park. 

Cllr Joanna Biddolph knew the postmaster well having first met him soon after first being elected in 2018, when she set up the Chiswick Shops Task Force specifically to support Chiswick's retail, hospitality and service business economy. She helped the postmaster with various issues including business rates and to consider how to lobby Post Office Ltd on ways in which the postmaster could use the excess space inside and improve its kerb appeal. No-one likes the building; it is far too large for the purpose; it is therefore far too expensive to run; it needs an imaginative approach. Unfortunately, Post Office Ltd is exceptionally prescriptive and inflexible creating instead of solving a problem. 

The closure shocked locals who, quietly rightly, could not understand why Post Office Ltd thought a town the size of Chiswick did not deserve a post office. There were robust discussions on Chiswickw4.com's discussion forum. Wherever Cllr Joanna Biddolph was, she overheard people discussing the closure or was asked whether she thought it would actually reopen. 

Petition: Reopen Chiswick Post Office Without Delay

Cllr Joanna Biddolph and Cllr Peter Thompson set up a petition on change.org, supported by their Conservative colleagues in Chiswick, and started the campaign to encourage residents and business workers to sign it.  The wording of the petition is below; you can also see it online here:

"Chiswick Post Office on Heathfield Terrace has been closed for several weeks, with no clear information about when it will reopen. This has caused serious disruption to residents, especially older and vulnerable people, and to local businesses who rely on this vital service. We call on Post Office Ltd to reopen the branch as soon as possible — and demonstrate that it understands the value and importance of this service at the heart of our community.

"We, the undersigned, call on Post Office Ltd to take urgent action to reopen the Chiswick Post Office on Heathfield Terrace.

"This essential local branch has now been closed for several weeks, without adequate notice, explanation, or a firm date for reopening. The closure has caused significant disruption for residents, especially older people, those in sheltered housing, and those without internet access, who rely on the Post Office to pay bills, withdraw cash, send parcels, and access vital government services.

"Local businesses are also affected, with many relying on postal services to operate day to day.

"The closure comes at a time when bank branches across the area are closing, making access to financial services even more difficult for those who are not digitally connected or able to travel easily. Many now face long and costly journeys to alternative branches, or are simply unable to access services at all.

"We urge Post Office Ltd to:

  • Reopen the Chiswick Post Office as a matter of urgency
  • Provide clear and transparent communication to residents and customers
  • Support the postmaster and staff to resume services
  • Invest in the branch to improve long-term sustainability and accessibility

"Chiswick needs and deserves a reliable, accessible Post Office.

"Please act now to protect this essential public service and show your commitment to serving our community.

"Please sign and share this petition to show your support for the immediate reopening of Chiswick Post Office."

Success thanks to huge support locally

Reports from the postmaster were that Post Office Ltd had been taken by surprise by the strength of local opinion. Nevertheless, it ran a consultation seeking opinions. Again It agreed to re-open the post office. Still Chiswick residents waited. Then it re-opened. 

Next steps

Post Office Ltd has proved itself to be unreliable. Cllr Joanna Biddolph is not complacent. She continues to campaign for Chiswick to retain its post office. Watch for updates!

News