Plans agreed between the government and the Royal Mail for mass post office closures are moving closer to home. The plans for Devon have not been announced yet: the list will be made public on May 20. There will then be a consultation period, and the post offices will close on August 19.
There are roughly 350 post offices in Devon and approximately 70 are expected to close. About half of these will be in rural areas.
The future viability of some village shops will suffer if they lose the post office business and the "footfall" it brings into the shop. So anything up to 50 village shops could be under threat.
Some councils are exploring with Royal Mail to run some of the closing post offices with the local communities. But this clearly won't be viable in very many cases.
The plan to close one in every five branches was taken by the government last year. Post offices are vital facilities for local communities and their closure are likely to hit residents hard.
Friday, 21 March 2008
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Friday, 8 June 2007
Subpostmasters Scheme to Fight Crime
Suspicious? Call the Grapevine
0845 603 4004
Subpostmasters are encouraged to use this local rate number to report any suspicious person, vehicle or behaviour
Register your mobile number with the Grapevine to receive SMS text alerts of suspicious activity in your area
0845 603 4004
Subpostmasters are encouraged to use this local rate number to report any suspicious person, vehicle or behaviour
Register your mobile number with the Grapevine to receive SMS text alerts of suspicious activity in your area
Sunday, 20 May 2007
Where will Darling’s Post Office axe fall?
Responding to today’s confirmation that 2,500 Post Offices are to close, the Countryside Alliance has urged Trade and Industry Secretary Alastair Darling MP to identify the branches earmarked for closure as soon as possible.
The Government is to close the branches citing increasing uneconomic viability, which the Alliance says is the case exactly because of the policies of this Government, which removed £168 million worth of Government services in 2006 alone.
Alliance Campaigns Director Robert Gray commented: “The social value of the Post Office network cannot be measured in financial terms. A local Post Office is often the social hub of a community, and the “glue” that holds it together. Thousands of communities from Cornwall to Northumbria have been waiting anxiously to find out where the axe will fall and whether or not they will lose their branch, and today’s announcement will only increase their anxiety.
“Thousands of people responded to the Government’s consultation on this issue and have been effectively ignored. Mr Darling must now tell us where the branches ear-marked for closure are and whether those communities affected will be consulted, or whether their views will continue to be ignored.”
Government Statement On Future Of Post Office Network
The National Federation of SubPostmasters today states that the time has come to focus on the future by building a viable and sustainable post office network.
Following months of uncertainty faced by subpostmasters and post office users, the NFSP welcomes today’s statement from the Government on its proposals for the network, announced by Alistair Darling, as a first step in achieving this vision.
Confirmation of plans to press ahead with a successor to the Post Office card account and to extend the Social Network Payment to 2011 signify a victory for the NFSP’s campaign, which culminated in an unprecedented petition of four million names being handed to 10 Downing Street during a lobby of Parliament last October.
However, the NFSP is disappointed that the Government has so far failed to take note of our concerns of the need for more investment in the sub post office network, and of the need for the network to be better used by Government to deliver key services and by Post Office Ltd to deliver a full range of banking and other products.
The NFSP bitterly regrets the planned closure of up to 2,500 post offices but accepts that the move, backed up by funds to compensate those forced to shut, is a necessary first step in establishing a sustainable post office network for the future in view of the level of decline in Government business in recent years.
Colin Baker, General Secretary of The National Federation of SubPostmasters, said: “Today’s announcement must be seen as an opportunity to take the first vital steps towards building a post office network that has a future, one that is viable and sustainable. It is time to look forward, not back.
“Everyone tells us that when a post office closes, the heart of the community dies. Our goal is of a network, both rural and urban, that will thrive and attract new investment, both from current subpostmasters and those considering joining the network; a goal of sustainable communities anchored by sustainable post offices. Crucial to this was establishing a recovery package with the Government, the basis of which has finally been reached today.
“Plans to introduce a successor to the Post Office card account and to extend the payment made for the social and economic service provided by the network are both crucial to the recovery package and represent a victory for the subpostmasters and their customers.
“The Government should not be reluctant or embarrassed to invest in the sub post offices. We believe that support for a network which touches the lives of 24 million people every week, including some of the most vulnerable people in society, is a good use of taxpayers’ money.
“In the meantime, we shall be keeping up the pressure on Government to stay true to its commitments and to deliver the investment and new products and services required to make sure that the new network is given the best possible chance to survive and thrive in the future.”
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
WEST DEVON CAMPAIGN WINS MP SUPPORT
Picture: Cllr Ken Williams at Whitchurch Post Office during WDBC Post Office Week s
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WEST Devon’s Use your Post Office Campaign has won support from local MP Geoffrey Cox who joined West Devon Mayor Cllr Ken Williams at Milton Abbot Post Office to meet the postmistress Hilary Pitt and several of her customers.
The visit came at the end of a week of campaigning as the Council sent out a message of support to its rural and town Post Offices, and encouraged people to use the many services on offer.
Cllr Williams said that the week’s activities, which included a Post Office trail across the Borough, and a meeting with local representatives of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, had been a great success.
Cllr Williams said: “The last week is just the first phase of an ongoing campaign from the Council. Our visits this week have made us even more aware how vital our local Post Offices are to the communities they serve.
“It was a privilege to meet so many postmasters and mistresses to see how much hard work they put into the service and into their communities. We all understand far better the difficulties they are facing and it is so important that Council does whatever it can to sustain morale. “
Mr Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, said: “ I’m delighted to support the West Devon Borough Council campaign. Post Offices are at the heart of our communities and it’s vitally important that we all use the very many services they provide.”
He said that he had recently met Alan Cook, the Managing Director of the Post Office Ltd., at Westminster to discuss proposals to close 2,500 Post Offices across the country. Mr Cox said that Mr Cook could provide no timetable for the closures but he was given an assurance that the Post Office would undertake a genuine local consultation after identifying sub-post offices that may be affected.
The visit came at the end of a week of campaigning as the Council sent out a message of support to its rural and town Post Offices, and encouraged people to use the many services on offer.
Cllr Williams said that the week’s activities, which included a Post Office trail across the Borough, and a meeting with local representatives of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, had been a great success.
Cllr Williams said: “The last week is just the first phase of an ongoing campaign from the Council. Our visits this week have made us even more aware how vital our local Post Offices are to the communities they serve.
“It was a privilege to meet so many postmasters and mistresses to see how much hard work they put into the service and into their communities. We all understand far better the difficulties they are facing and it is so important that Council does whatever it can to sustain morale. “
Mr Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, said: “ I’m delighted to support the West Devon Borough Council campaign. Post Offices are at the heart of our communities and it’s vitally important that we all use the very many services they provide.”
He said that he had recently met Alan Cook, the Managing Director of the Post Office Ltd., at Westminster to discuss proposals to close 2,500 Post Offices across the country. Mr Cox said that Mr Cook could provide no timetable for the closures but he was given an assurance that the Post Office would undertake a genuine local consultation after identifying sub-post offices that may be affected.
Tuesday, 27 February 2007
West Devon Borough Council Press Release
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday February 27, 2007
SO MANY SERVICES ON YOUR DOORSTEP!
WEST Devon people are being encouraged to use their local Post Office more often as the Borough Council launches a week-long campaign of activities to raise the service’s profile from Monday (March 5).
Mayor of West Devon Cllr Ken Williams is leading the initiative, along with his fellow Councillors, to promote around 30 Post Offices in the Borough during the week.
Cllr Williams said: “ For many areas in West Devon, the Post Office provides a central community focus. It really is the backbone of village life. For example, if someone doesn’t show up at their Post Office to collect their pension, it often doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s this kind of friendly, caring service that is irreplaceable.
“But if we don’t use them, we face losing them. That’s why the Borough Council, which has been fighting to keep our Post Offices for more than six years now, wants to encourage people to visit them more often.
“Even I was surprised to find out that local Post Offices can offer around 170 different services and products. That’s 170 reasons why we should all be using them more often! “
From Post Office card accounts where you can receive your benefits or pension, to personal banking, postal orders, car and home insurance, and even fishing licenses are all available.
West Devon sub postmaster Terry Kelly, who is also vice president of the Plymouth, North and East Cornwall branch of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, said he was delighted with the Council’s campaign.
Mr Kelly, who runs Whitchurch Post Office, said: “ It’s very reassuring to know that West Devon Borough Council values us so highly and is prepared to run a campaign such as this. We are very grateful.”
The campaign kicks off on Monday (March 5) with a Post Office trail across West Devon (see notes to editors below for itinerary) when Cllr Williams and Deputy Mayor Cllr Dennis Bater visit seven Post Offices in the Borough travelling in a vintage car.
On Tuesday (March 6), representatives from the National Federation of Sub Postmasters will be meeting West Devon councillors and throughout the week Councillors will be visiting their own Post Offices and organising various activities.
On Friday (March 9), Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox will give his support to the campaign as he and Cllr Williams visit Milton Abbot Post Office.
~Ends~
NOTES TO EDITORS and PICTURE EDITORS
On Monday March 5, West Devon Mayor Cllr Ken Williams and Deputy Mayor Cllr Dennis Bater will be visiting Post Offices in a vintage car. You are very welcome to send a reporter and/or a photographer to any of the Post Offices being visited.
The itinerary is:
Leave Merton Post Office at 9.50am.
Arrive Hatherleigh Post Office at 10.10am until 10.30am.
Arrive North Tawton Post Office at 11am until 11.15am.
Arrive Chagford Post Office at 11.40am until 12.10pm.
Arrive Okehampton Post Office at 12.40pm until 1.10pm.
Arrive Lewdown Post Office at 1.55pm until 2.20pm.
Arrive Chillaton Post Office at 2.40pm until 3.10pm.
Arrive Whitchurch Post Office at 3.40pm until 4.10pm.
Arrive Crapstone Post Office at 4.35pm until 5pm.
Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox and Cllr Williams will be visiting Milton Abbot Post Office at 2pm on Friday March 9. Again, you are most welcome to send along a reporter/ photographer to the visit.
Tuesday February 27, 2007
SO MANY SERVICES ON YOUR DOORSTEP!
WEST Devon people are being encouraged to use their local Post Office more often as the Borough Council launches a week-long campaign of activities to raise the service’s profile from Monday (March 5).
Mayor of West Devon Cllr Ken Williams is leading the initiative, along with his fellow Councillors, to promote around 30 Post Offices in the Borough during the week.
Cllr Williams said: “ For many areas in West Devon, the Post Office provides a central community focus. It really is the backbone of village life. For example, if someone doesn’t show up at their Post Office to collect their pension, it often doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s this kind of friendly, caring service that is irreplaceable.
“But if we don’t use them, we face losing them. That’s why the Borough Council, which has been fighting to keep our Post Offices for more than six years now, wants to encourage people to visit them more often.
“Even I was surprised to find out that local Post Offices can offer around 170 different services and products. That’s 170 reasons why we should all be using them more often! “
From Post Office card accounts where you can receive your benefits or pension, to personal banking, postal orders, car and home insurance, and even fishing licenses are all available.
West Devon sub postmaster Terry Kelly, who is also vice president of the Plymouth, North and East Cornwall branch of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, said he was delighted with the Council’s campaign.
Mr Kelly, who runs Whitchurch Post Office, said: “ It’s very reassuring to know that West Devon Borough Council values us so highly and is prepared to run a campaign such as this. We are very grateful.”
The campaign kicks off on Monday (March 5) with a Post Office trail across West Devon (see notes to editors below for itinerary) when Cllr Williams and Deputy Mayor Cllr Dennis Bater visit seven Post Offices in the Borough travelling in a vintage car.
On Tuesday (March 6), representatives from the National Federation of Sub Postmasters will be meeting West Devon councillors and throughout the week Councillors will be visiting their own Post Offices and organising various activities.
On Friday (March 9), Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox will give his support to the campaign as he and Cllr Williams visit Milton Abbot Post Office.
~Ends~
NOTES TO EDITORS and PICTURE EDITORS
On Monday March 5, West Devon Mayor Cllr Ken Williams and Deputy Mayor Cllr Dennis Bater will be visiting Post Offices in a vintage car. You are very welcome to send a reporter and/or a photographer to any of the Post Offices being visited.
The itinerary is:
Leave Merton Post Office at 9.50am.
Arrive Hatherleigh Post Office at 10.10am until 10.30am.
Arrive North Tawton Post Office at 11am until 11.15am.
Arrive Chagford Post Office at 11.40am until 12.10pm.
Arrive Okehampton Post Office at 12.40pm until 1.10pm.
Arrive Lewdown Post Office at 1.55pm until 2.20pm.
Arrive Chillaton Post Office at 2.40pm until 3.10pm.
Arrive Whitchurch Post Office at 3.40pm until 4.10pm.
Arrive Crapstone Post Office at 4.35pm until 5pm.
Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox and Cllr Williams will be visiting Milton Abbot Post Office at 2pm on Friday March 9. Again, you are most welcome to send along a reporter/ photographer to the visit.
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