Counter claim
PLYMOUTH City Council has demanded that Post Office bosses immediately lift the threat of closure hanging over city branches.
The authority has sent a report to top brass at Post Office Ltd which says there is “no compelling case” for axing the counters.
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It also calls for an urgent review of the 'branch access reports', on which the closure decisions were based, because they are full of mistakes.
Seven city post offices – Beaumont Road, Pennycomequick, St Levan Valley, Underwood, West Hoe, Plympton St Maurice and Stone Barton – are among 45 on a Devon 'hit list'.
They could shut as part of a Government drive to shed 2,500 of 14,300 branches nationally, to save money.
A six-week consultation period ends on Monday, and the council has submitted a nine-page report, in which it argues the branches must remain open.
The authority demands: “All recommendations for Post Office closures within Plymouth area withdrawn pending a review of the branch access reports.”
And its report stresses: “No compelling case has been put forward for the closure of any branch.”
The report goes on to highlight huge flaws in the data used by Post Office Ltd, in determining which branches face the axe.
These include mistakes in stating the distances to neighbouring branches, and their opening times.
'Obstacles' between branches are highlighted, such as steep steps and hills, which had not been taken into account.
It adds that no evidence has been put forward for other Devon branches – so there's no way of knowing if the most suitable ones have been earmarked for closure.
And no data on the threatened branches' finances has been released, so it's possible successful ones have been singled out, the council document adds.
The report also stresses that any branch closures will put a “much greater strain” on the remaining post offices, causing even longer queues.
And it says Post Office Ltd was wrong when it told people it had consulted with the council prior to drawing up the hit list.
A council Task and Finish Group prepared the document, after consulting widely and holding a public meeting.
The report was then debated and approved by a cross-party Overview and Scrutiny Commission, including Cllrs Andy Kerswell, Peter Berrow, Ken Foster and Tudor Evans, and chaired by Cllr Andy Fox. Cabinet member Cllr Peter Brookshaw signed off the decision.
Cllr Fox told The Herald: “It seems unfair the residents have to suffer because of this.
“We are working for the residents of Plymouth, our interest lies with them.”
A huge 'save our post offices' campaign has been running in Plymouth over the past six weeks. Hundreds of people have taken part in public meetings and marches, and MPs Linda Gilroy and Gary Streeter have been actively involved.
The Herald printed a coupon and earlier this week sent of 427 readers' pleas for branches to remain open.
Yesterday another 18 replies were submitted, making a total of 445.
The coupons will join hundreds of letters, sent direct to Post Office Ltd by city campaigners, and hundreds more sent via postal watchdog Postwatch.
Hundreds more people have signed petitions arguing against the proposed closures.
Abul Tarafder, postmaster at Pennycomequick, said he was pleased the council had backed the campaign.
However, he fears the closures will go ahead and the consultation is nothing more than “an exercise for the public”.
But he said: “There is a hope it (the council report) will make a difference.”
19 Comments
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by dave, honicknowle
Saturday, June 28 2008, 10:01PM
“molly , you must slow down and read comments etc properly ( which has b3een one of your downfalls ) and think of your responses . i (we )understand your frustration at everyone not understanding your opposite views ... but it was a woman who uses her local p.o. so much ( and others no doubt ) .”
by Molly, Sutton
Saturday, June 28 2008, 9:19PM
“Convenience stores make a profit by pitching their prices right. A post office providing unnecessary occasional services cannot do that. As to the man who sends 300 odd parcels at a time he will find that a franking weighing machine casts next to nothing and that at that level of usage the post office will collect possibly without charge.. It is certainly not worth keeping a heavy loss making sub post office open for him.”
by dave, honicknowle
Saturday, June 28 2008, 9:17PM
“cant get much more two faced than that can you ? unless of course you constantly complain that the herald is holding back on free speech and use it to air your veiws .... oh ... i forgot .. you do that as well ,molly ... ( kelly)”
by dave, honicknowle
Saturday, June 28 2008, 9:11PM
“this is a quote by molly this week on local shops ,
"These Londis shops are first rate. The rejuvenated one in Dale road is fantastic and it has an off-licence. At a time when so many little traditional local services are falling foul of the hyper-markets and discount supermarkets we should treasure the corner shop. Shades of Arkwrights. Molly, Sutton " ... yet local post offices not selling alcohol do not deserve the same support.”
by dave, honicknowle
Saturday, June 28 2008, 8:04PM
“for the life of me - i just cannot work out why post offices should be closed because the elderly or others that are not so advantaged should be put on the scrapheap as suggested by "molly " kelly" etc..... these same people were the ones that fought for the freedom that you so enjoy right now ..... do they not deserve even more ? think about it ( for a change )”
by Shirley, princerock
Saturday, June 28 2008, 5:35PM
“Brian -I use my local post office 4 times a week to post approx 300 parcels. I do not need to employ a courier service/royal mail to collect as I quite frankly do not wish to sit there all day franking each parcel as it would take up a great deal of my time where I should be concentrating on my growing business.I give my post office a great deal of business each week and I would not want them to close as they are very professional. I see many elderly people going into the post office and i dont think its just for a chat, as I said, most of them can hardly walk and i cant see them going to their nearest bank to withdraw their pensions as they are too frail. I believe that Molly just wants to make out she is this agile golden oldie who has a great life being able to get her stamps at the corner shop and use her internet, but i think i see her as somebody who doesnt get out much and has alot of unhelpful comments.”
by Molly, Sutton
Saturday, June 28 2008, 4:52PM
“Only those who employ and live with or near me can make a judgement. Perhaps I am a nasty piece of work. My point remains. most people don't need a post office from one decade to the next and if the government subsidised more convenient and free ATMs there would be no need to throw money at SPOs. I recieve two small state pensions. i send and receive parcels. nothing requires a post office.”
by Molly, Sutton
Saturday, June 28 2008, 4:44PM
“Quite the reverse, I hope, but like 98% of humanity I don't find any reason to step into a post office from one decade to the next despite receiving two state funded pensions and sending and receiving letters and parcels fairly frequently. If I did lose all my friends and neighbours and became disproportionately dependent on meeting vague acquaintances or familiar shop staff I have little doubt i could do that at newsagents or convenience stores. Those clinging to an obsolete feature of Victorian life should think laterally and find alternative social nodes. The government and post office could kick start the process by subsidising many more free and well placed ATMs.”
by Spycatcher, Plymouth
Saturday, June 28 2008, 4:30PM
“I wasn't going to comment on here any further but Molly you are making youself appear as though you are a horrible, very unhappy woman. You are perhaps very lonely yourself.”
by Molly, Sutton
Saturday, June 28 2008, 4:15PM
“Why doesn't the government give the vast amount of cash to be saved by closing these loss making throwbacks to the old lonely and infirm so they can buy friends and daytime satelite TV?”