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Black-letter day for post offices
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| "Lifelines": eight post offices could close in Barnet |
Eight post offices in Barnet have been earmarked for closure as the Government tries to save millions of pounds.
The cull was announced by the Post Office today, as part of a plan to shut one in five of London's 854 post offices.
A six-week public consultation on the proposals will take place before a final decision is made.
The Post Office is subsidised by the Government and the latest plans meet its criteria to tackle financial losses and falling customer numbers. The Government announced plans in May last year to close up to 2,500 post offices across the UK.
But Barnet's MPs have slammed the proposed
closures.
Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers said: "My constituents are only just recovering from the last
battle against the Post Office to close branches.
"Post offices are a vital part of our community. They provide the services people on lower incomes need. Travelling by bus to another post office is not only inconvenient, it can also be expensive. And it is no joke getting on a bus with a child's buggy."
Hendon MP Andrew Dismore described the closure of the Watford Way post office as "extremely shortsighted".
"With the development underway at Beaufort Park, and the other schemes planned for Colindale just across the A41, it is not rocket science to predict a substantial growth in the demand for post office services in the near future," he said.
Gordon Massey, of Barnet Residents' Association, believes the loss of the Dollis Valley Way branch represents a general decline in facilities in the area.
He added: "Many people will now incur costs travelling on the bus to other post offices, which is not fair when you're dealing with some of the most deprived people in the borough.
"There are a lot of deprived people who use the post office to get benefits - elderly people and mothers with small children."
Under the Government's criteria, 99 per cent of the population must live within three miles of a post office, and 90 per cent within one mile.
Anita Turner, the Post Office's network development manager for London, said: "Taking the decision to close any post office branch is always very difficult and we know it will
concern many customers.
"We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for post office services in London."
Neil Walsh, of the Communication Workers' Union, warned the closures would have a knock-on effect on main post offices.
He said: "The customers will have to go somewhere else and it will cause queues in the main post offices. This will put our workers under more pressure and it's not to the best advantage of customers."
The six-week consultation runs until April 2. To give your view, write to National Consultation Team at Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM, or call 08457 22 33 44, or email your comments using the link on the post office website, www.postoffice.co.uk
8:14am Tuesday 19th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: Miranda Dunn, Finchley on 8:41pm Wed 20 Feb 08
The Labour Government are allowing an EU Directive to destroy an institution responsible for nurturing our civilisation. Post Offices are important to local economies. If these Post Offices go the misery this might cause is appalling to contemplate.
Margaret Thatcher put the first knife into the Post Office by destroying the Post Office Savings Bank. New Labours transfer of the capital from pensions and welfare cheques from the care of the Post Office to an American Multinational Bank was a further knifewound and a further criminal act.
To say that Post Offices are running at a loss is to fail to see their function in allowing other businesses within the local community to thrive. The Closure of all these Post Offices must be fought. Ken Livingstone has said that he wants to keep London's Post Offices. This is not good enough.He must publicly condemn the Post Offices actions and make genuine attempts to stop the closure of one more London Post Office if he is to keep his credibility. Labour have failed to support the Post Office and have placed puppets in charge of the bloodletting assett stripping destruction of this vital organ of freespeech democracy and communication.
The CWU should be placed in charge of the Post Office and the Royal Mail and the Management should be sacked.
The Labour Government are allowing an EU Directive to destroy an institution responsible for nurturing our civilisation. Post Offices are important to local economies. If these Post Offices go the misery this might cause is appalling to contemplate.
Margaret Thatcher put the first knife into the Post Office by destroying the Post Office Savings Bank. New Labours transfer of the capital from pensions and welfare cheques from the care of the Post Office to an American Multinational Bank was a further knifewound and a further criminal act.
To say that Post Offices are running at a loss is to fail to see their function in allowing other businesses within the local community to thrive. The Closure of all these Post Offices must be fought. Ken Livingstone has said that he wants to keep London's Post Offices. This is not good enough.He must publicly condemn the Post Offices actions and make genuine attempts to stop the closure of one more London Post Office if he is to keep his credibility. Labour have failed to support the Post Office and have placed puppets in charge of the bloodletting assett stripping destruction of this vital organ of freespeech democracy and communication.
The CWU should be placed in charge of the Post Office and the Royal Mail and the Management should be sacked.
Posted by: Ian Payne, Walsall on 9:53am Fri 22 Feb 08
Well said Miranda !!!
It is happening just the same up here in the Black Country.
I say sack the managers !!!
Well said Miranda !!!
It is happening just the same up here in the Black Country.
I say sack the managers !!!
Posted by: Bruce Standing, Whetstone on 2:10pm Mon 25 Feb 08
I visited North Finchley Post Office at 10.40 this morning. The queue started outside on the pavement, and it took 25 minutes to reach the head of the queue. Six of the twelve counters were closed, and I found that after having renewed road tax that I was subjected to a sales pitch for car insurance. Next year I will be tempted to renew road tax on the internet, and I expect the Post Office will complain they are losing more business.
I visited North Finchley Post Office at 10.40 this morning. The queue started outside on the pavement, and it took 25 minutes to reach the head of the queue. Six of the twelve counters were closed, and I found that after having renewed road tax that I was subjected to a sales pitch for car insurance. Next year I will be tempted to renew road tax on the internet, and I expect the Post Office will complain they are losing more business.
Posted by: Liam, Barnet on 9:03am Thu 28 Feb 08
Sack the managers? Who exactly? And what good with that do?
Sack the managers? Who exactly? And what good with that do?
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