Post Office Closures

Post Office Closures

On the Wellington Hill West Post Office it is far from clear that it meets the criteria for closure in any event. The post office element (it is also a Spar) by itself has around 1200 customers per week which is, as I understand it, about the cut off which the Post Office is applying in less deprived urban areas. It is over half a mile to the next nearest post office (Henleaze Road), but for those coming from Southmead Road side or from the Clover Ground estate the distance to get to a Post Office will be far more. This is bound to prove difficult for elderly and disabled people. I have asked my political opponents to join with me to put aside our political differences and to work to persuade Post Office Limited to take this Post Office off the closure list on the basis that it does not meet the relevant criteria. If we work together and direct our energies into this together I think it could be saved, rather than simply (as they are presently) trying to take party political advantage of the situation. For example, my Lib Dem opponent put out leaflets at the weekend (including through my door!) which asked people to fill in a slip which simply gives information back to Lib Dem HQ- no doubt to be used for party campaigning purposes. If they are serious about saving this post office they should be encouraging all residents to write to the Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM. A massive turn out of support, coupled with figures from the Post Master which, he has told me, show increasing business and reasoned argument might well change the Post Office's mind on this one. On the Barrowmead Post Office, the loss of this Post Office will mark a real loss of amenity for residents in Lawrence Weston. Although the numbers using the Post Office have recently been low its loss will be felt by those residents who regularly use it. I had hoped that the post master would some time ago have moved premises when the parade of shops came up for redevelopment. Unfortunately, the Post Office appears to now be forcing his hand. I hope that he can start up somewhere nearby and perhaps open up one of the 500 new Outreach service points which are being introduced from the additional £1.7 billion subsidy on top of the £2 million a week which the service currently receives (and which the Tories have indicated they will cut completely).

Sam Townend for Bristol North West