News story

1st September 2004

Residents Step Up Pressure Over Tesco Plans

Local resident Gordon Cox presenting the petition to Steve Webb MP

Residents of Brimsham Park in North Yate have collected hundreds of names on a petition to protest against plans by Tesco to close the post office currently operated in the One Stop convenience store in the neighbourhood centre at Brimsham Park. The petition has now been presented to Northavon MP Steve Webb who is backing the residents' protests and will be meeting with Tesco managers to argue for the retention of a post office in the neighbourhood centre. The MP is also collecting petition signatures which can be returned directly to his office and will be sent on to Tesco's.

The residents' petition was organised by local pensioner Mr. Gordon Cox of Rockwood House, Yate, who is a regular user of the post office. Mr. Cox said: "I can't see why Tesco's need to take out the post office. It is particularly important for older and disabled people to have a convenient local post office that they can get to independently rather than having to rely on someone else to take them into the town centre".

Receiving the petitions, Steve Webb said: "I congratulate Mr. Cox on his quick work in collecting hundreds of signatures on his petition. Together with the signatures that I am also collecting I hope that Tesco will get a clear message that local people want to keep a local post office."

The wording of the petition draws attention to the fact that Tesco have already announced plans for a substantial expansion of their store in Yate shopping centre, and queries therefore "what Tesco can gain" by removing the post office from its present location.