News story

2nd December 2004

MP Demands Apology from Post Office Bosses over Local Post Office that "Ran Out of Money"
 

Northavon MP Steve Webb has demanded an apology from the Head Office of the Post Office after a local post office was forced to turn away pensioners who had come to collect their Winter Fuel Payments. To add insult to injury, some pensioners had had to travel much further than usual because their local post office at Frampton Cotterell had been closed by the Post Office.

The problems occurred at Coalpit Heath post office which is now also serving Frampton Cotterell residents following the controversial decision to close Frampton Cotterell's own post office last month. Some pensioners arriving at the post office on Wednesday (1st December) were told that the money had run out and that they would have to come back the next day. The local subpostmistress, Mrs. Sarah Davis, had asked post office bosses for additional cash because of the new custom from Frampton Cotterell and because of the extra demand because of winter fuel payments, but the money did not arrive. Now Northavon MP Steve Webb has contacted post office bosses to demand an apology both to local pensioners and also to Mrs. Davis and her staff.

Steve Webb said:

"Many of us warned of the inconvenience that would be caused to Frampton Cotterell residents if their post office was taken away. It is totally unacceptable that people had to be turned away when collecting their winter fuel payment, and the failure of post office chiefs also put the local subpostmistress and her staff in an impossible position. Post Office bosses have already ignored local opinion over the closure of Frampton Cotterell post office. The very least they should do now is apologise to customers and staff at Coalpit Heath post office for this mess-up, and they must ensure that this is not allowed to happen again".