BELLINGHAM: Disabled woman finally gets to see inside post office

A DISABLED woman has finally seen the inside of the post office after 18 years of collecting her benefit outside on the street.

Wheelchair-bound Dusty Kilford, 65, of Swallands Road, Bellingham, had to be served in cold, wind and rain, outside the post office because it did not have disabled access.

Each week, she endured the humiliating and risky task of having a member of the post office staff count out her benefit money on the street.

Mrs Kilford said: "I would have to ring the post office before I came down then wait outside until all the other customers were served before someone would come out to pay my benefit.

"I could be waiting for up to half an hour in wind, rain and cold.

"It was both humiliating and frightening to have all my benefit counted out in public, for all to see."

She added: "I was frightened someone would see me and I would get mugged."

Mrs Kilford started her campaign to get disabled access installed in the Randlesdown Road Post Office, Bellingham, since 1995 but the former postmaster would not build a ramp.

A spokesman for Consignia said: "Many smaller post offices are owned or rented by the sub-postmaster. In these cases it is their responsibility to make any changes and, unfortunately, we cannot force them to make changes."

Despite Mrs Kilford winning the support of local residents and councillors for her campaign and, in 1998, the News Shopper trying to help her get her wish, no ramp was installed.

But now, six years later, new management has taken over the post office and her wish has finally been granted.

Mrs Kilford said: "It is wonderful to be able to hand in my benefit collection book, myself, over the counter.

"The new management should get recognition for what they have done."

Postmaster Bala Selvaratnam took over the Bellingham post office in November 2001.

He said: "We welcome all people to this post office. For too long it has been run down but we are making changes.

"We will also soon be installing a special low counter for disabled customers."