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Post office closure confirmation bad news for the Cotswolds
THE last post has been sounded bringing closures to post office branches around the Cotswolds.
The confirmation of which post offices would face the axe was announced just half an hour ago by Post Office Ltd.
The monumental effort from the local communities campaigning against the closure of Stratton and The Beeches post offices was for nothing as their names appeared side-by-side on the list.
Meysey Hampton Post Office will also be included in the closures - with the first ones scheduled to take place next month.
The only good news was the announcement that the branches at Miserden and Rendcomb will have a further six-week period of consultation on the specific details of the Outreach service proposed to replace them. The date of this consultation will be confirmed shortly.
During the six week local public consultation, Post Office Ltd received around 3700 responses and attended 35 meetings with customers and their representatives across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
Post Office Ltd says all information provided by customers formed part of the final decision regarding each affected branch.
Mark Partington, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.
"We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation.
"We believe that the amended plan announced today offers our customers across Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government's minimum access criteria and the other factors it has asked us to consider."
Full details of the decisions and the issues raised during local public consultation are available by visiting www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange
For local reaction to the decision see the Standard on Thursday.
10:30am Tuesday 6th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: S Messer, Cirencester on 2:10pm Tue 6 May 08
I think it is essential that Post Offices remain open.They are particularly important for the elderly and the disabled who cannot get to main Post Offices.
I think it is essential that Post Offices remain open.They are particularly important for the elderly and the disabled who cannot get to main Post Offices.
Posted by: J. Mikeson, Cirencester on 2:10pm Tue 6 May 08
I was very disappointed to hear of the Post Office closures, despite the campaining of local people.
I was very disappointed to hear of the Post Office closures, despite the campaining of local people.
Posted by: mike brereton, stratton on 2:19pm Tue 6 May 08
This is a ridiculous decision as this takes away as valuable service for the community. And furthermore this post office is profitable. So why can this make sense to close it.
This is a ridiculous decision as this takes away as valuable service for the community. And furthermore this post office is profitable. So why can this make sense to close it.
Posted by: JEANNETTE, Beeches on 2:23pm Tue 6 May 08
very disappointed with the post office closures
very disappointed with the post office closures
Posted by: jeannette, Beeches on 2:24pm Tue 6 May 08
very disappointed with the post office closures
very disappointed with the post office closures
Posted by: Colin Forbes, Stratton on 4:24pm Tue 6 May 08
This is a very disappointing decision for the people of Stratton, the Beeches and everywhere else affected by the closures. Closure of these Post Offices seems inexplicable except in the context ofthe rigid requirements of the 'Network Change' programme - and will be a real loss of amenity to these communities. But at least we tried, we raised our voices - so well done to everyone who campaigned, wrote letters, signed petitions or demonstrated in Cuiencester in protest against the closures. We did everything we could - - it's such a shame that it wasn't enough to sway the decision.
This is a very disappointing decision for the people of Stratton, the Beeches and everywhere else affected by the closures. Closure of these Post Offices seems inexplicable except in the context ofthe rigid requirements of the 'Network Change' programme - and will be a real loss of amenity to these communities. But at least we tried, we raised our voices - so well done to everyone who campaigned, wrote letters, signed petitions or demonstrated in Cuiencester in protest against the closures. We did everything we could - - it's such a shame that it wasn't enough to sway the decision.
Posted by: dadshedz, London on 9:18am Wed 7 May 08
No hope for us then!
3700 responses, 35 meetings but Post Office Ltd changed nothing, they didn't even bother to refer to the local campaigns in their decision announcement, arrogance in the extreme, why have a sham consultation, why waste peoples precious time thinking they might be listened to, PO Ltd and Postwatch are deaf and blind,stop this insincere phoney process now, admit there is nothing that will change your minds, proving how innacurate your Branch Access Reports are, the unfair uneven spread of closures, the lack of consultation with alternative offices forced to take on the extra business, or the hidden closures of the outreach alternatives and replacement with offices available for just a few hours a week, perhaps they should look up the english meaning of consultation "seek information or advice" neither are of interest to them.
No hope for us then!
3700 responses, 35 meetings but Post Office Ltd changed nothing, they didn't even bother to refer to the local campaigns in their decision announcement, arrogance in the extreme, why have a sham consultation, why waste peoples precious time thinking they might be listened to, PO Ltd and Postwatch are deaf and blind,stop this insincere phoney process now, admit there is nothing that will change your minds, proving how innacurate your Branch Access Reports are, the unfair uneven spread of closures, the lack of consultation with alternative offices forced to take on the extra business, or the hidden closures of the outreach alternatives and replacement with offices available for just a few hours a week, perhaps they should look up the english meaning of consultation "seek information or advice" neither are of interest to them.
Posted by: Darren, Cirencester on 9:32am Wed 7 May 08
A judicial review is the only answer.
Anyone know a good but cheap Barrister ?
A judicial review is the only answer.
Anyone know a good but cheap Barrister ?
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