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Fury at closure of post offices
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| FED UP: Peter Blakey of Broadwey Post Office |
ANGRY community leaders today described the proposed closure of post offices in the Weymouth and Dorchester area as appalling and short-sighted'.
Post Office bosses want to close offices in Buxton Road at Wyke Regis and Dorchester Road at Broadwey in Weymouth.
Offices could also close at Fordington Green and Monmouth Road in Dorchester as well as at West Bay, Bridport, Worth Matravers and Owermoigne, which was already temporarily closed.
Broadwey's postmaster and postmistress, Peter and Janet Blakey, said they were devastated by the news.
Mrs Blakey said: "We have put everything into building this up to a profitable and professional business to serve the local community.
"If we were to close we feel the majority of our customers would be unwilling to go to the suggested alternative offices.
"We think they would go into town
to the main post office, which we
understand is already extremely busy."
She added that she and her husband will be mounting a campaign, backed by South Dorset MP Jim Knight, to save the office from closure.
Mr Knight said: "Peter and Janet have assured me that whatever happens they want to carry on running a post office service in the shop and I have today instigated a campaign to keep post office services at Broadwey.
"I'm disappointed that the closures include the Buxton Road office and I'm happy to assist constituents who want to oppose this proposal."
Mr Knight added that he was not opposed to all of the proposed closures in the county, claiming some were necessary to sustain a viable network' of post offices.
He also said he was pleased none of the offices on Portland have been earmarked for closure.
A website has been set up for people wishing to campaign against the closure of Broadwey Post Office at www.jimknight.com/broadweypostofficesurvey.
Buxton Road Post Office manager, Roger Hayre, said his existing customers would not be able to use suggested alternative post offices.
He said: "The majority of my client base is elderly and they've got a number of disability issues, the biggest being mobility.
"This office is very much a community base and is a vital element for my customers, who will not be able to migrate to other stores.
"It's hard enough for them to get here and there are real access issues with suggested alternatives such as the town centre office."
Mr Hayre said he would be running a customer survey campaign to prove his case during a forthcoming six-week consultation period by the Post Office on the proposed closures.
Upwey and Broadwey borough councillor Mike Goodman said he was absolutely appalled' by the news that his local office will close.
He added: "It's such a short-sighted decision and I find it incredible.
"This is just a kick in the teeth from central government for no good reason.
"It will be a massive loss locally and will impact on everyone, from the young to the elderly."
Mr Goodman said he would be working with organisations like the Upwey Society to fight the plans.
Dorchester town councillor and Monmouth Road resident, Tess James, said elderly people in the area would be the worst affected.
She said: "I suppose we suspected this but I think it's very sad for the local area.
"The Monmouth Road office has been a very good local service and we will be very sorry to lose it.
"I always see quite a few people using the post office here.
"There is always a queue when I go in and I think it's important for the older people to have somewhere local they can use.
"People will be taking more cars into town now just to get to the post office."
No one from Monmouth Road Post Office was available for comment.
West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin will hold a series of meetings about the closures, starting at the Salt House, West Bay on Friday (18)at 10.15am.
The next one will begin at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester on the same day at 11.30am.
Mr Letwin said: "Post offices in West Dorset, thank goodness, have come off lightly compared to most other areas with only five post offices under threat and only three of those in rural areas.
"However, that is little comfort to people in Dorchester, West Bay - which is obviously one many local people locally are concerned about
- and elsewhere in the county.
"I am determined to work with local government to try to find ways to keep these offices open."
Teresa Seall, West Dorset District Council member for Owermoigne, said: "The village would like to keep its post office open.
"It was a very useful part of the village and we will miss it, but we have to make other means."
She added: "I think there is work afoot locally to get the shop part open again."
South Dorset Conservative parliamentary candidate Richard Drax called the post office closures an act of vandalism'.
He said: "We have a large elderly population in South Dorset and the post office is a lifeline for many of them, especially in remote rural
villages.
"What sort of country do we want? A post office was and is the centre of village life. They are vital for the elderly and act as a community
meeting point.
"Now people will be forced to travel further afield to find a post office, while those with no cars will be placed in the most impossible
situation.
"And spare a thought, too, for the owners of these post offices. They've all been told they'll only get their compensation if they promise
not to provide any competing postal service for at least a year."
Dorset Community Action field worker, Simon Thompson, said: "Although the rate of closures is below the national average, the
individual communities affected will be reeling after this news."
He added that his organisation is willing to give help and support to parish councils and community groups if needed.
Offices facing closure
Beaminster: Kittwhistle PO, Kittwhistle
Blandford: Salisbury Road PO
Blandford: Blandford Camp PO, Welfare Centre, Blandford Camp
Bournemouth: Lower Charminster Road PO, Alldays Store
Bournemouth: Northbourne PO, 7 Ashbridge Parade
Bridport: West Bay PO, 11 West Bay
Charlton Marshall: Charlton Marshall PO, Parish Rooms, The Close
Christchurch: Stour Road PO, 108-110 Stour Road
Dorchester: Fordington PO, 8 Fordington Green
Dorchester: Monmouth Road PO, 33 Monmouth Road
Ferndown: Wimborne Road PO, 550 Wimborne Road East
Longham: Longham PO, 130 Ringwood Road
Milton On Stour: Milton On Stour PO, Forge Garage
Owermoigne: Owermoigne PO (temporarily closed), 11A Kit Lane
Poole: Park Gates PO, 121 Parkstone Road
Poole: Penn Hill Avenue PO, 1 Bank Chambers
Poole: Sandbanks PO, 8 Banks Road
Sturminster Newton: Todber PO, Hatcher Cottage, Moorside
Wareham: Sandford PO, St Helens Road
Weymouth: Buxton Road PO, 23 Buxton Road
Weymouth: Broadwey PO, 608 Dorchester Road
Wimborne: Holt PO, Holt Lane
Wimborne: Stapehill PO, 197 Wimborne Road West
Worth Matravers: Worth Matravers PO
9:42am Tuesday 15th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: John Holmes, Weymouth on 10:20am Tue 15 Jul 08
Flippin' heck! Me and my family use the Buxton Road Post Office in Rodwell (not Wyke by the way) every single week - what is wrong with these closure-clowns? Slowly but surely our communities are being dismantled - when will it end?
Flippin' heck! Me and my family use the Buxton Road Post Office in Rodwell (not Wyke by the way) every single week - what is wrong with these closure-clowns? Slowly but surely our communities are being dismantled - when will it end?
Posted by: Old Broadwey Resident, Broadwey on 11:44am Tue 15 Jul 08
Whoever it was that rubber stamped the closure of Broadwey Post Office has absolutely no concept of the infrastructure problems here in Broadwey and Upwey.
Broadwey Post Office is within walking distance of most of North Weymouth and always seems busy. Alternatives are difficult to reach, and most importantly have nothing to contribute to the local community.
This closure is a total lack of foresight and I suspect is nothing more than a numbers game...Janet and Peter deserve better than this.
Whoever it was that rubber stamped the closure of Broadwey Post Office has absolutely no concept of the infrastructure problems here in Broadwey and Upwey.
Broadwey Post Office is within walking distance of most of North Weymouth and always seems busy. Alternatives are difficult to reach, and most importantly have nothing to contribute to the local community.
This closure is a total lack of foresight and I suspect is nothing more than a numbers game...Janet and Peter deserve better than this.
Posted by: white43, Dorchester on 12:00pm Tue 15 Jul 08
I use Fordington Green regularly and am disgusted that it could be closed.
So we now all have to go to the much reduced, smaller, central PO?? What in the world is going on in this country...the postal service just goes from bad to worse.
Next it will be centralised deliveries and every other day.
I use Fordington Green regularly and am disgusted that it could be closed.
So we now all have to go to the much reduced, smaller, central PO?? What in the world is going on in this country...the postal service just goes from bad to worse.
Next it will be centralised deliveries and every other day.
Posted by: richardH, Dorchester on 12:17pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Paypal must take some of the blame for doing pre-paid postage labels, this contributes nothing to the Post Office but they still have to take the pacels etc
Paypal must take some of the blame for doing pre-paid postage labels, this contributes nothing to the Post Office but they still have to take the pacels etc
Posted by: Voice Of Reason, Weymouth on 12:37pm Tue 15 Jul 08
I really like the Broadwey Post Office, and visit regularly (not for the actual Post Office). However, from an objective point of view (and this is NOT to say that I agree with the decision before people start slating me- again) the Post Office at the Littlemoor Shopping Centre offers virtually every service (except Passport Checking). Yes, it is a bit further to go, and I am suprised that neither Preston branch has been earmarked for closure- there are 4 Post Offices within a (relatively) small area in the Preston, Broadwey and Littlemoor area. The Buxton Road Post Office (in [bold]Rodwell[/bold] , as mentioned before) whilst convenient, is not super busy. I know people that have worked there, and they used to take crosswords with them....Ultimately, Post Office closures are a sign of changing times. It is not convenient to visit, as many are only open normal office hours (9am-5pm) so there is little opportunity for the majority of people to visit. As Post Offices become quieter (and less profitable) the Postmaster/Postmistr
ess still earns the same wage. It is the same as any business- if it's no longer making money, it will be closed. As I said, I don't agree with it, but it happens. Look at Comptons the Stationers- lots of people used to buy supplies from there, but times change, and not enough customers visited for them to carry on making enough money to continue trading. Increased competition and changes in fashion etc meant that people simply didn't go in there as much, and the shop had to close. The Fordington Post Office has been up for sale for well over a year (pretty much since they were raided) and the loss of the Post Office will come as a blow for them.
I really like the Broadwey Post Office, and visit regularly (not for the actual Post Office). However, from an objective point of view (and this is NOT to say that I agree with the decision before people start slating me- again) the Post Office at the Littlemoor Shopping Centre offers virtually every service (except Passport Checking). Yes, it is a bit further to go, and I am suprised that neither Preston branch has been earmarked for closure- there are 4 Post Offices within a (relatively) small area in the Preston, Broadwey and Littlemoor area. The Buxton Road Post Office (in
Rodwell , as mentioned before) whilst convenient, is not super busy. I know people that have worked there, and they used to take crosswords with them....Ultimately, Post Office closures are a sign of changing times. It is not convenient to visit, as many are only open normal office hours (9am-5pm) so there is little opportunity for the majority of people to visit. As Post Offices become quieter (and less profitable) the Postmaster/Postmistr
ess still earns the same wage. It is the same as any business- if it's no longer making money, it will be closed. As I said, I don't agree with it, but it happens. Look at Comptons the Stationers- lots of people used to buy supplies from there, but times change, and not enough customers visited for them to carry on making enough money to continue trading. Increased competition and changes in fashion etc meant that people simply didn't go in there as much, and the shop had to close. The Fordington Post Office has been up for sale for well over a year (pretty much since they were raided) and the loss of the Post Office will come as a blow for them.
Posted by: Daddytone, Dorchester on 1:28pm Tue 15 Jul 08
So Dorchester a town getting bigger by the year and with exciting developments going on that will lead to more visitors and trade coming to the town is losing 50% of its Post Offices? Good move that. Monmouth Road is a fantastic post office and will be much missed.
So Dorchester a town getting bigger by the year and with exciting developments going on that will lead to more visitors and trade coming to the town is losing 50% of its Post Offices? Good move that. Monmouth Road is a fantastic post office and will be much missed.
Posted by: Albo, Wyke Regis on 2:07pm Tue 15 Jul 08
I am - as a disillusioned Labour voter - going to call shenanigans on Mr Knight's crusade to save these Post Offices. His government's had eleven years to sort the network out, and instead handed it to a bunch of jokers an ne'er-do-wells who have run it into the ground. Much like many other public services, truth be told.
I fully expect Mr Knight to mysteriously disappear when push comes to shove and the most loyal minister in the House has to start speaking out against his own government. I dare say he's done it before.
Am I being unfair to Jim because I'm spitting nails at my own local PO facing closure? Yes, I am. But, Jim, you'll be looking for a job by June 2010, so why not put the community before party for once?
Over to you, Richard Drax...
I am - as a disillusioned Labour voter - going to call shenanigans on Mr Knight's crusade to save these Post Offices. His government's had eleven years to sort the network out, and instead handed it to a bunch of jokers an ne'er-do-wells who have run it into the ground. Much like many other public services, truth be told.
I fully expect Mr Knight to mysteriously disappear when push comes to shove and the most loyal minister in the House has to start speaking out against his own government. I dare say he's done it before.
Am I being unfair to Jim because I'm spitting nails at my own local PO facing closure? Yes, I am. But, Jim, you'll be looking for a job by June 2010, so why not put the community before party for once?
Over to you, Richard Drax...
Posted by: Wessex Lass, Dorchester on 3:52pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Closure of Post Offices, Jobcentres, HMRC what is next? Services we pay for through our taxes we are no longer going to get. A lot of people may think great, money saved, but this is not the case. Everytime you want to contact HMRC or the Jobcentre you now have to pay the price of a telephone call, visiting was free. Dorset does not have many Public Service Offices compared to other County's and the ones we have got we are letting them close. Is it about time we said enough?
Closure of Post Offices, Jobcentres, HMRC what is next? Services we pay for through our taxes we are no longer going to get. A lot of people may think great, money saved, but this is not the case. Everytime you want to contact HMRC or the Jobcentre you now have to pay the price of a telephone call, visiting was free. Dorset does not have many Public Service Offices compared to other County's and the ones we have got we are letting them close. Is it about time we said enough?
Posted by: weymouthfred, weymouth on 8:57pm Tue 15 Jul 08
It would be nice to see party politics put aside, for once, and people united behind the campaign to save Broadwey Post Office. Jim Knight says on his website he is not against all the closures in his constituency, but believes a case can be made to save Broadwey and Buxton Road. To me, that is putting the community first. What more do you want, Albo?
It would be nice to see party politics put aside, for once, and people united behind the campaign to save Broadwey Post Office. Jim Knight says on his website he is not against all the closures in his constituency, but believes a case can be made to save Broadwey and Buxton Road. To me, that is putting the community first. What more do you want, Albo?
Posted by: JamesY, Dorchester on 9:24pm Tue 15 Jul 08
Question: As oil prices continue to rise, as many analysts predict, and we start to make fundamental changes to the way that we view energy, and road fuel in particular, how will these closure programmes be seen ? It seems ridiculous that at the end of the age of cheap oil, at a time when government, through punitive taxation, is encouraging us to use the roads less, other organisations are able to take these nonsensical decisions.
I've voted Tory all my life, but i have to say that in hindsight, privatisation has done nothing other than asset strip this country, allowing (often foreign) companies to buy up assets at way below market value, make ridiculous profits and demand government subsidies to fix problems that they should, by rights, have fixed before taking profits.
Question: As oil prices continue to rise, as many analysts predict, and we start to make fundamental changes to the way that we view energy, and road fuel in particular, how will these closure programmes be seen ? It seems ridiculous that at the end of the age of cheap oil, at a time when government, through punitive taxation, is encouraging us to use the roads less, other organisations are able to take these nonsensical decisions.
I've voted Tory all my life, but i have to say that in hindsight, privatisation has done nothing other than asset strip this country, allowing (often foreign) companies to buy up assets at way below market value, make ridiculous profits and demand government subsidies to fix problems that they should, by rights, have fixed before taking profits.
Posted by: DingDonG, Wilds of Wiltshire on 9:30pm Tue 15 Jul 08
And if Roland Hill was alive today, he would be turning in his grave.
BRING BACK PUBLIC HANGING.
And if Roland Hill was alive today, he would be turning in his grave.
BRING BACK PUBLIC HANGING.
Posted by: weymouthfred, weymouth on 9:38pm Tue 15 Jul 08
I think JamesY makes a good point - that for all the bluster coming from certain sections of the political class on this issue, the destruction of the post office network, as we know it, really took place during the privatisation of the 1980s. The unfortunate consequences of which we are having to deal with now. The state of the rail network is another example...
I think JamesY makes a good point - that for all the bluster coming from certain sections of the political class on this issue, the destruction of the post office network, as we know it, really took place during the privatisation of the 1980s. The unfortunate consequences of which we are having to deal with now. The state of the rail network is another example...
Posted by: almclean, Dorchester on 9:41pm Tue 15 Jul 08
There is a petition to save the Dorchester Post Offices at www.west-dorset-libd
ems.org.uk/2008/07/1
5/local-post-offices
-face-closure/
There is a petition to save the Dorchester Post Offices at www.west-dorset-libd
ems.org.uk/2008/07/1
5/local-post-offices
-face-closure/
Posted by: SCRAPETAPES, Dorset on 9:56pm Tue 15 Jul 08
I run a small record label and have been using the Dorch Road post office to send my records all over the world for a while now and will depend on it when I release the next series of records. The service is fast and friendly, and there is normally no waiting time when compared to the one in town centre. I really hope this doesn't get taken away, as post will go out a lot less often from the label.
I run a small record label and have been using the Dorch Road post office to send my records all over the world for a while now and will depend on it when I release the next series of records. The service is fast and friendly, and there is normally no waiting time when compared to the one in town centre. I really hope this doesn't get taken away, as post will go out a lot less often from the label.
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 12:03pm Wed 16 Jul 08
[quote][bold]SCRAPETAPES[/bold] wrote:
I run a small record label and have been using the Dorch Road post office to send my records all over the world for a while now and will depend on it when I release the next series of records. The service is fast and friendly, and there is normally no waiting time when compared to the one in town centre. I really hope this doesn't get taken away, as post will go out a lot less often from the label.[/quote] Because there is no waiting time is probably the answer to why its post office counter is closing.
SCRAPETAPES wrote:
I run a small record label and have been using the Dorch Road post office to send my records all over the world for a while now and will depend on it when I release the next series of records. The service is fast and friendly, and there is normally no waiting time when compared to the one in town centre. I really hope this doesn't get taken away, as post will go out a lot less often from the label.
Because there is no waiting time is probably the answer to why its post office counter is closing.
Posted by: weymouthfox, Weymouth on 12:22pm Wed 16 Jul 08
As an occasional user of Monmouth Road post office I think closure is wrong. It is Jim Knights government that has forced pensioners like my mum to have her money paid into the bank and robbed the small post offices of their business. Why is everything closing? Soon we will all have to travel to Bournmouth to do anything.
As an occasional user of Monmouth Road post office I think closure is wrong. It is Jim Knights government that has forced pensioners like my mum to have her money paid into the bank and robbed the small post offices of their business. Why is everything closing? Soon we will all have to travel to Bournmouth to do anything.
Posted by: Tru Belle, purbeck on 6:46pm Wed 16 Jul 08
Fed up with everything closing?
SW Trains
Head Office - Postal Address----- South West Trains Friars Bridge Court 41-45 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NZ. Head Office - Primary Phone Number, 08700 00 5151
Here we go again-- pester power works , believe me it really does!!!!
Fed up with everything closing?
SW Trains
Head Office - Postal Address----- South West Trains Friars Bridge Court 41-45 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NZ. Head Office - Primary Phone Number, 08700 00 5151
Here we go again-- pester power works , believe me it really does!!!!
Posted by: sammy, weymouth on 9:20pm Sun 20 Jul 08
I use the Buxton Road post office and it is far more accessable than the Portland Road one that isn't closing. Buxton Road PO is busy but has a car park and a pull in layby, Portland Road itself is just a nightmare and hazardous any day of the week. I cannot understand why one has been chosen over the other. And why is the Preston area fairing so well out of all this! Is there more going on than meets the eye?
And... profitability, profitability, profitability. Howabout, community, community, community!!
I use the Buxton Road post office and it is far more accessable than the Portland Road one that isn't closing. Buxton Road PO is busy but has a car park and a pull in layby, Portland Road itself is just a nightmare and hazardous any day of the week. I cannot understand why one has been chosen over the other. And why is the Preston area fairing so well out of all this! Is there more going on than meets the eye?
And... profitability, profitability, profitability. Howabout, community, community, community!!
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