A PLAN to build more than 600 homes on the former Burmah Castrol site in Pipers Way is another reason to keep Guildford Avenue post office open.

This is the view of former council leader Mike Bawden, who has lent his support to campaigners fighting to keep the Lawn post office from closing.

Coun Bawden (Old Town and Lawn) says the development will place even more demand on post office services.

The multi-million pound scheme to build 616 homes, a nursing home, a health centre and a pharmacy was given outline planning permission in September 2006.

In December, permission for the first part of the development was given. The application for the rest is still to be received.

"At the public meeting we had about the closure, this point about the new homes being built was raised and it was said that we would get more information," said Coun Bawden.

"From the information I've gathered, there will be an extra 600 homes built on the old Burmah site and I believe that should be considered in the consultation.

"I have got in touch with Tim Nicholls, the network development manager for the Post Office, and he has said that they weren't previously aware of this and that the information will be taken on board before a decision is made.

"I have no doubt they will take notice of this information along with the fact that the Lawns area has a very high number of elderly residents, something which wasn't clear before because the data the consultation team had was from the 2001 census - nearly seven years out of date."

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said: "As part of the pre-public consultation stage, Post Office Ltd engages with local authorities and regional development agencies seeking information on major development schemes in the area.

"Any such planned or proposed schemes should be known and considered before the Area Plan proposals are published for local public consultation.

"If during this we are made aware of plans we have not been notified of, impact of these developments will be considered before final decisions are made."