Final Submission to Save Post
Offices
Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council Board
Member and Portfolio Holder for Customers, Cllr Margaret Simon has
written to Royal Mail setting out in detail the views of Members’
and residents in relation to the closure of local Post
Offices.
The letter, sent to the Network Development
Manager who is overseeing the project, lists the many concerns that
people have for each individual Post Office, as well as a preferred
option the Borough Council believes would limit the negative effect
of closure.
During the consultation, which lasted six
weeks, a recurring concern expressed by residents was the capacity
of both main Post Offices in Crewe and Nantwich Town Centres.
The proposals seemed to take little account of the already lengthy
queues at each of the branches.
In the letter the Borough Council have put
forward strong arguments for retaining some branches proposed for
closure and suggested a partner service within existing retail
outlets, e.g. a nearby supermarket, wherever possible. This
option is similar to Outreach and would ensure that Post Office
services remain available.
Portfolio Holder for Customers, Cllr
Margaret Simon said: “The Borough Council is committed to helping
save our local Post Offices. Using the extensive local
knowledge we have this letter makes a clear argument for ensuring
that the current level of service remains unaffected.”
She added: “We are acutely aware of the need
to sustain the quality of life – in particular, for our most
vulnerable citizens, like the elderly.”
Since the Network Change Programme was
announced the Borough Council has been united in its support
against local Post Office changes. During the consultation
period Council staff have used local knowledge to study the Post
Offices minimum criteria as well as posting a petition on the
website and at all Council offices.
During a public meeting organised by
Nantwich Town Council, Cllr Brian Silvester, Leader of the Borough
Council, revealed that the Borough Council had requested, in
confidence, further information from the Post Office that included
the levels of customer usage and the financial data relating to
each outlet. The Post Office declined to provide this
information.
Ends
For Media enquiries contact:
Jo Vause, 01270 537721
news.views@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
2
January 2008
0230/jv
Notes to Editor
The Post Offices
identified for closure under the proposal are:
Gainsborough Road, Crewe, CW2 7PH
Nantwich Road, Crewe, CW2 6BY
Millfields, Nantwich CW5 5JG
Millstone, Lane, Nantwich, CW5 5PD