Telford could lose four post offices in a massive closure programme planned by Royal Mail, it was claimed today.Conservative Parliamentary candidate Tom Biggins has pledged to fight any cuts, which he says will strike a “severe hammer blow” to local life.
Mr Biggins is now preparing a major campaign to safeguard the post offices, with a petition, public meetings and a series of action days planned.
Royal Mail is expected to announce on April 1 the closure of 2,500 branches across the country to save money.
“I am appalled at the prospect of further closures in Telford,” said Mr Biggins today.
“Since 1999 we have lost five post offices, including those at Dawley Bank, Lawley Village and Ketley.
“No one knows yet where the axe will fall, but I am fearful that even more local communities in the area will lose a vital local facility and vulnerable people will lose a service they depend upon.
“I am determined to fight these plans and minimise the closures, which are bound to strike a severe hammer blow to community life. Any further cut to the Post Office network in Telford is intolerable.”
Mr Biggins, who is also a Shropshire county councillor, has already won the authority’s unanimous backing for the motion that it will “do everything in its power” to resist closures.
“Likewise, Telford & Wrekin Council is equally determined to oppose closures,” he said.
His petition can be found on the website www.tombiggins4telford.com
Mr Biggins added: “People often walk to their post office in their local centre but no one is going to walk two or four miles further if these closures go ahead.
“At a time when politicians should be providing more local services, encouraging people to be travel less and to ease global warming, I fear this plan will be forcing Telford people to travel more by car and bus.”
The closure programme, he said, would be “arbitrary and illogical”, taking no account of whether a post office was profitable or not.
The Government says cuts are needed as the 14,000-strong network has been losing £4 million a week.
Across the country, about 4,000 branches have shut.
20 Comments
Post Offices are not as important as they were. So much of their work is now done online. One can receive one’s pension automatically and pay one’s bills on line. And, if one owns a motor car, one car tax it online. Who needs a Post Office? I have broadband!
“Royal Mail is expected to announce on April 1 the
closure of 2,500 branches across the country to save money.”
Must be an April fool..
This is not fair on people who do not have a pc.
Maybe they can all go to Harolds house for help.
One could probably send ones chauffeur to pick them up.
who pulled harold’s chain, yes i agree he and i can do this that and the other online but the elderly who probably do not have computers cannot and need access to a post office. most post offices are connected with a local shop and if one goes the other closes. lloyds and barclays banks allow you to bank through the post office with them, perhaps the other backward banks may catch up.
no this post office closure plan is another way this government is closing down rural life and it is a little more complex than harold suggests.
“Who needs a Post Office? I have broadband!”
Lucky old you! So have I! I also enjoy reasonable health, have a job, my kids are grown up, we have a car and I am capable of accessing services without any outside assistance.
So, who needs a health service / education service / public transport / the sort of one to one help and advice provided by post office counter staff?
You don’t - I don’t - AT THE MOMENT
My wife worked behind a post office counter for many years. When she was made redundant as the result of her office being closed she asked who would help the customers who simply couldn’t help themselves - the visually handicapped, the old and infirm, the simply inadequate? She was told that they could always seek help and advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Since then, the CABx in Wellington, Madeley and Telford Town Centre have all closed, to be replaced by one office in Ketley, behind the Shropshire Star. Because I work near to one of the former CABx I am often asked by their would-be clients where they have gone, and then asked how they are supposed to find their way to the new office.
Perhaps you’d care to tell us which other public services you/we don’t need - but remember - be careful what you wish for…..
H.St.John Peasbody-”So much of their work is now done online”
What if you’re 93 years old have arthiritic hands,a bad memory and not computer literate like my mum?what then?
My sister takes her to the post office practically every week to collect her benefits.Really sensible shutting down post offices.
You also say “Who needs a Post Office? I have broadband!”answer my Mum!
And the MP’s are doing what to prevent all this ….?
I detest going into the Post office in Oswestry
It’s full of benefit spongers, old folk, and always smells. Sooner go on line!
Unfortunalty H.St.john peasbody not everyone has ones broadband, hence the need for support to stop the closures of said post offices.
Jolly good for you Harold now just be thankful when your’re busy clicking away that not only are you networked into cyberspace but thoroughly networked and clicking at the heart of the social fabric of your environs. Top hole Sir! Jolly good stuff indeed. Now the reality beyond the glibness of your posting.
You will also appreciate not all older folks are as fortunate as yourself in this department. Pension day is often the only chance where a lot of people manage to meet and associate with their friends and acquaintances, and humans being gregarious by nature as a species if not as every individual, often need to integrate almost as a neccessity. This is called ’social integration’ and for a lot of people its the difference between a abject desperate lonliness and a feeling of mental wellbeing and belonging, networking if you like. Bit like yourself. Happy clicking.
Did he say which four post offices? Did he say how he knows? Or didn’t you ask?
Andrew,
I think the post office and customers will be glad to see the back of you.
The only smell in that post office is the one under your nose.
andrew i plead guilty to being a benefit sponger, i collect my hard earned pension each week. i insist on receiving a weekly giro so that i can use my post office regularly. every letter i post i ask for proof of posting. finally ask not what my post office can do for you, also ask what you can do for your post office. use it or lose it, if you lose it protest like heck.
harold i know you love to be provocative and many of your sayings are with tongue in cheek. why not pop down to your post office and buy an easter card, or do you send them online!!
Some of the responses to my initial points suggest that Post Offices are needed for a handful of people who are handicapped, infirm, elderly etc. I cannot for the life of me understand why a commercial organisation has to cater for people’s personal problems and issues – therefore passing on huge costs to other users of their services. The answer is simple – the Welfare State should provide for them and not leave it for companies to do it. Private companies never will because it costs too much to cater for loss-making services. Nationalisation of Post Offices isn’t the answer either – think of the cost of Northern Rock and then multiply it by a huge factor. We’d be paying thousands of pounds in tax to support post offices.
H.St.JohnPeasbody”Some of the responses to my initial points suggest that Post Offices are needed for a handful of people who are handicapped, infirm, elderly etc.That is what is unique about the post office it does or it use to cater for these people.
Handful!The majority of post office cutomers are handicapped,infirm and elderly.Don’t be so selfish in you attitude towards those more vulnerable people.
It isn’t a private company -yet!The Government own 51 per cent,get your facts right before making swinging statements.
Post Offices are obsolete. There is no need for them in 2008. They are subsidised to the tune of £150m a year by Central Government yet they are still losing £2m a week The rest of Royal Mail Group plc has to finance this loss. It can’t and this situation cannot continue – all services offered by a Post Office are available elsewhere. Close them – it’s mismanagement in the extreme to retain them.
What happens H when your computer breaks down or your internet connection fails what then?You cannot rely solely on technology.Are you going to pop down to the nearest Post Office,oh deary me they’ve all closed down.
John - we do rely solely on technology. Do you live in a cave and forage for berries and nuts?
h peasebody when you have something useful to say please contribute, hope to hear from you again in say july 2015???
No.I do use the internet obviously because I am able to make comments on this website.So you would rather rely on the internet to pay bills etc.where the possiblity of it breaking down and also security is more vulnerable than rely on a post office?Also we don’t rely solely on technology and we shouldn’t, it should be used as backup to other ways and means of paying bills and other communication issues.