The Walmsley Village resident, who turns 80 next month, is leading the charge for improved access to Churinga Village shopping centre's post office.

Residents in wheelchairs, scooters and walking frames can access the post office only through a narrow S-bend ramp.

"It's just ridiculous to shut people off from the post office - if only it were six inches [15centimetres] wider," Mrs Clarke, who travels by scooter, said. "Getting up [or down] the ramp is just not easy - the corners are too tight. You can't turn around it's almost impossible."

Mrs Clarke's daughter, Helen Borland, is angered elderly residents are denied their independence and access to essential services.

"These elderly folks have been on their own, sometimes they don't have family and expecting other people to do the job for them is not really the point of independent living."

Churinga Village property managers Pound Tyas Bernardi declined to comment, but indicated the ramp was compliant to general planning provisions.

Kilsyth MP David Hodgett is dismayed the company has chosen to "hide behind a basic level of compliance". "It's totally unreasonable and unacceptable for them to conclude that people who cannot access the post office can rely on friends and family to pay bills and assist with postal services.

"The company must do the right thing, acknowledge the problem and alter the ramp access to the post office ."