HELP TO SAVE OUR POST OFFICE

Holcombe is on the Post Office’s provisional list for closure and will be shut by the end of August unless the decision is overturned.  At the beginning of the branch closure programme, the Post Office set out four criteria to determine which offices should be closed, namely:                   

1.      the number of transactions the Post Office conducts;

2.      the distance to the nearest Post Office if a branch is shut;

3.      the topography of the location, e.g. terrain, bus services, etc; and

4.      the cost to the Post Office of running the branch.

At a public meeting, a representative from Postwatch (the consumer watchdog for postal services) mentioned that the Post Office would also take into account factors such as the demographics of an area, how vulnerable people might be affected, the potential increase in road journeys and the impact on a community, for example if it was also the only shop in the village.  At present these factors have not been taken into account as the Post Office does not have the relevant information.    

So how can you help?  Well various organisations such as Devon County Council, Dawlish Town Council and the Residents Association will be making representations and providing further information to help inform the final decision.  But it is also important that individuals write as the sheer number of representations will carry weight.

So please make the time and write to both Post Office Ltd and Postwatch setting out how the closure of Holcombe’s Post Office would impact on you.  It is important to stick to factual issues and the factors the Post Office will take into account (see above), rather than just disagreeing with the Government’s decision to make the Post Office more commercially viable.

The relevant addresses are:                                          

Tim Nickolls                                                                 Postwatch

Network Development Manager                                       FREEPOST

C/o National Consultation Team                                      Email: info@postwatch.co.uk

FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM                                     Tel: 08456 013265

Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk                               website: www.postwatch.co.uk

Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44  

website: www.postoffice.co.uk  

The letters need to be with the above organisations by Monday 30 June to be taken into account.