News story

8th October 2004

MP "Pessimistic" Over Prospects For Local Post Offices

Northavon MP Steve Webb has said that he is "pessimistic" about the prospects for the post offices at Frampton Cotterell and Hambrook, following receipt of a letter from the manager of the Post Office's team dealing with the national consultation over branch closures. At the end of September, Steve Webb submitted a lengthy letter on behalf of constituents setting out the reasons why the two post offices, currently on a post office "hit list", should be kept open. The letter was accompanied by petition forms signed by hundreds of local residents. The MP had also received copies of dozens of letters that residents had written directly to the Post Office in support of local offices.

Although a formal decision has yet to be announced, the MP has this week received a very full response from Mrs Julia Marwood, National Consultation Manager at the Post Office, with comments on the points made in the MP's letter and by local residents, in the light of which Mr. Webb said that he was not hopeful of a positive outcome.

The Post Office reply begins by justifying the decision to class Frampton Cotterell and Hambrook as "urban" by reference the definitions used in a report by the Government's "Performance and Innovation Unit" four years ago. On this basis, the Post Office says that Frampton Cotterell is "linked" to Coalpit Heath and Winterbourne, whilst Hambrook is "...clearly connected to the greater Bristol area and therefore falls within the Bristol urban sprawl".

On the issue of public transport access for Frampton Cotterell residents to the proposed alternative post offices, the reply expresses "regret" that "...some customers may be forced to change the way in which they travel to their local Post Office branch, possibly incurring additional cost". The only defence given is that it is better that closures are planned in a systematic way rather than simply depending on which postmasters want to retire or sell up.

On the problems faced by residents of Hambrook and Frenchay in getting to alternative offices at Downend, the Post Office acknowledges that "...some customers will be forced to travel longer distances..." and says that this is something that they "...very much regret". However, the reply again stresses the pressure that the Post Office is under to achieve financial viability and says that "...carrying on with the existing number of branches in your constituency area is simply not an option".

Steve Webb also challenged the Post Office about the possible timescale for the closures, pointing out that shutting a Post Office before the busy Christmas period would generate maximum inconvenience for customers. In reply, the Post Office say that whilst they "...fully appreciate your reasons for this request...", they will nonetheless be pressing ahead with the existing timetable which could well involve pre-Christmas closures.

Commenting on the letter, Steve Webb said:

"Local people have made their strength of feeling known, and I have made sure that the Post Office are fully aware of this. But their response gives me little confidence that they are really listening. The tight financial squeeze being imposed by the government, together with the devastating effect on post office business caused by the withdrawal of pension books has made life very difficult for the post office. The official announcement, when it comes, looks unlikely to be good news".