September 16, 2008

MP SUBMITS REPORT ON POST OFFICE CLOSURE PROPOSALS

Local MP John Healey has submitted his report on Post Office Ltd’s proposal to close three branches in the Wentworth constituency.

POL’s seven-week consultation period on the future of branches at Parkgate, Harley and Whinney Hill is due to end on Monday.

Mr Healey has asked Adrian Wales, POL’s north east network development manager, to give the points he makes serious consideration.

Since the proposals were announced in early August Mr Healey has written to hundreds of residents and businesses to make sure they were aware of the possible closures and let them know how they could make their views known.

He has also discussed the proposals with the affected postmasters, council leaders, councillors and Postwatch and carried out detailed research into the profile of each post office’s catchment area.

Mr Healey said he felt there were factors POL had not considered, particularly relating to Harley and Parkgate.

He added: “POL say that if Parkgate was to close then customers could use the post office at Bellows Road – but that branch could be out of action for over a year if plans for the redevelopment of the Bellows Road Shopping Centre go ahead.

“This would put many Parkgate residents and businesses outside the 99% of the urban deprived population who – according to POL’s declared service aims – should have a post office outlet within a mile. This is completely unacceptable for a large number of Post Office users.”

Mr Healey said though Harley was a small village and post office use was low the service was vital for its customers, especially the elderly.

He said the proposal had sparked a great deal of local concern and bus services would make accessing alternative branches extremely difficult.

He said: “There is just one bus service per day between Harley and Wentworth, which gives customers just 11 minutes to make the 120-yard each way walk from the bus stop to the post office and carry out their transactions. Not only this, but they would arrive in Wentworth when the post office was closed.

“There must be a post office service in the village and if this is simply not viable in the present way, as a condition of closure POL must provide an outreach service at least two or three days a week in Harley.”

To view the full report, click here