Sponsored by
Closed post offices to be replaced by mobile vans
MOBILE postal services operating from roadside laybys are to replace axed post offices in some villages near Peterborough.
MOBILE postal services operating from roadside laybys are to replace axed post offices in some villages near Peterborough.Plans for the reduced services have been revealed by Post Office Ltd bosses after they yesterday announced the closure of six post offices across the county.
The offer of mobile and outreach services has sparked outrage among residents, postmasters and local MPs.
MP for North West Cambridgeshire Shailesh Vara said: "It is very unsatisfactory and I am very sorry that the very strong local campaigns have been ignored by Post Office Ltd and the Government, which is ultimately responsible.
What do you think?
Comment below, email us: news@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 588719.
Related:
Video: Axe falls on all but one condemned post office, 17 September 2008.
More on the post office closures and our campaign: Hands Off Our Post Offices.
-------------------------------------
"Local people will suffer from this dash for cash.
"A reduction in some of the services is deplorable. Even at this late stage Post Office Ltd has failed to say which services will be excluded from its outreach provisions.
"It is inconceivable it doesn't know which services will be left out. It is a disgrace.
"With the mobile services, they will be restricted to a few hours a week and to specific times, which will mean people will have to work around the timing of the mobile van.
"If it is raining and there are people queueing, they will get wet and a mobile van will also be a moving target for criminals."
Following a six-week consultation period Post Office Ltd announced yesterday its decision to close six out of seven offices in the Peterborough area earmarked for the chop as part of a cost-cutting measure.
While staff at the Mayor's Walk branch, in West Town, are over the moon after hearing their post office is to remain open, post offices in New England and Woodston will be closed and no other services provided.
Customers who currently use the post office in Great Gidding, near Huntingdon, will in future have to rely on a mobile van with reduced services which will visit laybys in Winwick Road and Station Road.
Outreach services will be provided at the Five Alls pub, in Benwick, near March, for people living in the village and those from Ramsey St Mary's.
Postmaster in Great Gidding Jed Patel said: "I understand that they will bring in someone new to provide the mobile service.
"It is a big loss and I am sad to lose it as I like to be able to provide a service to my customers in this small village.
"It will also affect my shop business as a lot of my customers come because they use the post office.
"However, I will carry on and provide what I can."
Manager of Woodston post office, Nichola Chappell said: "We are upset by the decision to close.
"We can't understand it, because we are one of the stores that did the most of the campaigning, yet we are being closed.
"We don't believe they read any of our letters or listened to us at all.
"Our customers are in tears. Woodston is a deprived area and once the post office closes on October 14, there won't be anything left for residents."
Post Office Ltd's network development manager Laura Tarling 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 Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and South Lincolnshire, the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government's minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider."
More on PeterboroughToday.co.uk:
Video: Axe falls on all but one condemned post office, 17 September 2008.
More on the post office closures and our campaign: Hands Off Our Post Offices.
-------------------------------------
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.