Key organisations and businesses in Bradford city centre have joined the campaign to stop the Exchange Post Office in Bank Street from closing.

Bradford City Centre Steering Group and Bradford Retail Action Group have written to Post Office watchdog Postwatch describing the effect it would have on the city which is being regenerated at a cost of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Councillor Simon Cooke, chairman of Bradford City Centre Steering Group, has written: "Closure of this branch would leave a large and growing commercial and retail area inadequately served by a post office and alienate hundreds of loyal customers."

He says work has already started on the £300 million Broadway shopping development which will house Debenhams and BHS department stores as well as other major retailers when it opens in autumn 2007.

"The Bank Street branch is the nearest post office to the site and will be located opposite a main entrance and ideally placed to pick up footfall to and from it," he says.

Coun Cooke's letter points out that there has been extensive residential development in the heart of the city with 2,000 apartments either occupied, under construction or being planned.

He also makes the point that the Exchange is close to the Bradford Interchange travel centre and Market Street bus stops.

He has told Postwatch that the steering group - with members including West Yorkshire Police, the Council, Metro, National Museum of Photography, Film & Television and First Bradford Bus Company - believes the closure plan is short-sighted and drawn-up without local knowledge.

A letter of objection has also been submitted by Bradford Retail Action Group which points out that prospects for traders in Bradford are looking positive because work has started on the Broadway scheme.

Chairman Jeff Frankel also stresses that a new shopping scheme on the site of the former Rawson Market is also due to open this November and the Kirkgate Shopping Centre is reporting a seven per cent increase in visitors.

"In addition, there has been substantial investment in the leisure, commercial and - above all - residential sectors within the city centre which, coupled with falling crime rates, is making Bradford an increasingly popular option for shoppers, residents and businesses."

Postwatch has described the response to proposals to close Bank Street as "massive" and staff say it is the biggest reaction they have seen.

The Union of Communication Workers was today holding a public meeting at St George's Hall between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

Post Office Limited proposes closing Bank Street and 16 other post offices across the district as part of a reorganisation of its network of urban post offices.

Officials say the company is looking at the full picture and there are alternatives which people can use.

They say the Exchange Post Office is not making money and the other city centre branches at Sunbridge Road and Darley Street would be improved. The period for objections to the Exchange Post Office closure ends on September 28.