COUNCIL NEWS
Post Office Closures in Bedfordshire
8 July 2008Public Relations
19 out of Bedfordshire’s 93 post offices are earmarked for closure as part of Post Office Ltd’s Network Change Programme, it was announced today (8 July 2008). Post Office Ltd will now consult local communities on their proposed closures until 26 August 2008.
Bedfordshire’s local authorities and the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC) are working together to provide information to town and parish councils and their communities to support campaigns against closures. They have also given Post Office Ltd considerable information on local trends, such as growth, deprivation and access issues, in an attempt to prevent closures and seek the best possible location of future outreach services.
Post Office Ltd is consulting on closures on an area-by-area basis, and Bedfordshire is included in the current consultation round. Earlier consultations have shown that strong local information campaigns about why there is a need to keep a post office open have been the most successful.
Public meetings have been arranged to give local people an opportunity to hear from Post Office Ltd representatives:
Bedford Borough: 6.30-8.30pm, Wednesday 23 July, The Bedford Swan Hotel, The Embankment, Bedford MK40 1RW
Mid Bedfordshire: 6.30pm, Thursday 17 July, MBDC Council Offices, Priory House, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire SG17 5TQ
South Bedfordshire: 12.30-2.30 pm on Wednesday 23 July Vandyke School Theatre, Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 3DY; and 5:30 to 7:30pm on Thursday 7 August, The District Offices (Committee Rooms 1 and 2), South Bedfordshire District Council, High Street North, Dunstable LU6 1LF
The Bedfordshire Rural Affairs Forum website www.braf.org.uk has a dedicated page on the Post Office closures, and further updates will be published there. It also has links to a number of other resources that can be used to respond to the consultation. This includes guidance on how communities can run an effective campaign about a proposed closure and information and maps to use to make a robust case. There is also material prepared by local councils to help promote campaigns available through their websites.
To respond people should write to: National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM or email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk, or call 08457 22 33 44 by 26 August 2008.
Councils are asking people to also copy in (by email is fine) your local MP, in Mid or South Beds postoffice@southbeds.gov.uk or in Bedford dhickman@bedford.gov.uk.
Postwatch can be contacted directly (and copied in to responses going to Post Office Ltd) at FREEPOST Postwatch, email info@postwatch.co.uk, or on 08456 013265.
Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, said: “Post offices are the cornerstone of community life in the Borough. This is particularly apparent for the elderly and those in areas where the post office is the last remaining community facility. With 5 post offices having closed in the borough in the last 10 years these further cuts will inevitably have an adverse effect on community life.
We’re advising people that individual letters setting out reasons for opposing the specific closure of particular post offices have tended to have a much greater impact than general petitions. So getting as many people as possible to write in defence of their post offices is vital.”
Jane Markham, BRCC, said: “We are supporting local communities in their campaigns to save their post offices. We are also preparing to work with them on how to cope if their post office is closed – this will have an impact upon the local village shop, where post offices are often based, and upon the social life of the village. It will mean big changes for everyone in the town or village affected.”
Ken Matthews, Mid Beds District Council Planning Portfolio Holder, said: “This is a significant issue of considerable concern for our communities. Those most badly affected will be the most vulnerable members of these communities - the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.”
“It is important that people send individual letters giving their reasons for opposing the specific closure of particular post offices. These have had a much greater impact than general petitions. So getting as many people as possible to write in defence of their post offices is vital.”
“I am sure that many parish and town councils will want to make a formal representation against the closures. Other organisations and businesses in the affected areas should contact their local town or parish council and work with them to make a combined, formal representation, as well as encouraging individuals to write in”.
Cllr Bob King, Cabinet Member for Communities, Bedfordshire County Council, said: “Post Offices are the heartbeat of our communities. “This is an issue our villages and towns can unite around. The councils will be supporting local campaigns and I would urge residents to get involved and get writing in support of their post offices if they are under threat. If you are older, vulnerable, disabled or not able to travel, these changes could be serious for you.”
Post Office Ltd will be establishing new outreach services in three locations. In those areas people are urged to influence the provision of a suitable outreach service alongside any campaign to save the post office. Again, experience elsewhere is that refusal to consider an outreach option has not prevented closure of the post office itself.
POST OFFICES PROPOSED FOR CLOSURE (Post Office and District listed)
- Brickhill Drive Bedford
- Elstow Road Bedford
- 193, Goldington Road Bedford
- Midland Road Bedford
- Springfields Bedford
- Ravensden Bedford
- Stevington Bedford
- Stewartby Bedford
- Biggleswade - Kitelands Mid Beds
- Blunham Mid Beds
- Old Warden Mid Beds
- Southill Mid Beds
- Chalton South Beds
- Eaton Bray South Beds
- Dunstable - High Street South South Beds
- Dunstable - Luton Road South Beds
- Leighton Buzzard - Hockliffe Street South Beds
- Linslade South Beds Slip End South Beds
POST OFFICES PROPOSED FOR REPLACEMENT BY AN OUTREACH SOLUTION(Post Office and District)
- Colmworth Bedford
- Thurleigh Bedford
- Upper Dean Bedford
For more information about the Post Office Ltd’s Network Change Programme visit the following page:
http://www.bedford.gov.uk/Default.aspx/Web/PostOfficeClosures