Fears have grown that elderly residents are set to lose out after four post offices in Preston close their doors in a month’s time.
A six week consultation into the proposals for the doomed post offices ended on March 3, with details published today of closure dates.
Branches in Leyland, Chorley, Lancaster and rural parts of Preston are also set to get the chop.
Councillor Terry Cartwright, ward leader for Deepdale, Preston said: “I just don’t understand. These are busy branches that are being closed down. If there was no business it would make sense. But that’s not the case.”
“I’ve tried all I can to keep the post office in my ward open, to no avail.”
Terry criticised the government for their decision to axe the Deepdale Road office.
He said: “Post offices are the hub of the community, a place where customers go for advice and help for many different issues.”
The closure of four post offices in Preston may not only spell the end of a traditional focal point for the local community, but also damage the environment.
Postmasters and local MP’s fear the closure of branches in Preston and the Fylde will mark an increase in short car journeys, as people are forced to travel further to reach their nearest branch.
Postmaster Mark Bamforth, of Warton Street Post Office, Lytham said the proposals went against the government’s plans to go green and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“If 2,500 post offices close nationwide, just think how many shorter car journeys will be made as a result of this, and how these will contribute to increasing congestion?” He asked.
The Post Office response was that the programme of closures was necessary to provide a sustainable future for the Post Office, after years of neglect and underinvestment.
Councillor Vali Patel, representing Preston Central South from Lancashire County Council, supports the proposals: “There isn’t really a role for post offices in society today. Business at local post offices is diminishing due to the expansion of modern technologies such as the internet.”
Branches in Deepdale Road and Acregate are in some of the most deprived areas of Preston, where car patronage is also low. Councillor Patel fears some of these factors haven’t been taken into account.
“The proposals need to take into consideration the needs of vulnerable people such as the old, disabled, the poor and people in under privileged communities.”
“These are the people who really rely on their local post office.”
Postmasters have been reluctant to speak out about the closures amid threats they will not receive full compensation if they talk. However some have commented anonymously.
A Preston postmaster said: “It’s going to greatly affect the community. There’s a big elderly population in the area.”
“The post office provides an essential service for the elderly. Some of our customers don’t have bank accounts and rely on the post office to draw out their pensions.”
With no direct bus link from Acregate to the nearest branch, the journey for Preston’s elderly is set to get harder.
Joyce Shepherd, a pensioner from Crompton Street, Preston thinks the impact this will have on the elderly will be great.
“Some people already struggle to get to the post office. The walk to the nearest branch will be too far for lots of people but there isn’t an alternative.”
“I’ve lived and worked my whole life in Preston and always put back into the system, this is the thanks we get.”
Dennis Scott, 72, of Milner Street, Preston said: “I rely on the post office in Deepdale Road. I know the government is trying to make cut backs but I don’t see why they have to take away essential services in the process.”
Councillor Vali Patel defended Lancashire County Councils decision not to take over the closing post offices.
He said: “The council has looked into running some services but it is a costly matter and would lead to vast amounts of money being tied up, when they could be better spent on other things.”
The future for local postmasters remains uncertain, as Councillor Cartwright commented: “Some postmasters are taking severance pay from the Post Office and retiring. For others this simply isn’t an option so they are turning their post offices into convenience stores.”
“Obviously some will be left unemployed at the end of it, which is appalling.”
Sunday 20 April 2008
Post Office in Lytham saved from the chop!
Lytham’s doomed post office was today saved from the axe, while 11 others around the Fylde coast will close within a month.
After a six week consultation, Post Office bosses announced Lytham’s Warton Street branch would remain open to the public.
This comes after hundreds of angry people joined a mass protest through Lytham’s streets to save their local post office.
Postmaster Mark Bamforth was ecstatic with the news: “We were overjoyed when we heard the news. The family have worked here for 44 years; my mum still works with us. It’s as much a part of us as it is a part of the local community.”
“All our customers are so happy and relieved that their hard work has paid off and their local branch is staying open.”
However, as people in Lytham celebrated, locals in Wigan were outraged when their post office was added to the list of branches to shut in the North West.
Newburgh post office in Wigan will close in replacement for Warton Street, Lytham.
Ann Maudsley, 67, of Ranleigh Drive, Wigan said: “Why should our local post office close because another one has stayed open. They shouldn’t be closing at all. It’s ridiculous.”
Mark shared his unhappiness with this decision, “Obviously we’re dismayed that the branch in Wigan might have to shut instead of us. It shouldn’t be tit for tat.”
The campaign to keep the post office in Lytham open, headed by Fylde MP Michael Jacks and Mark and his family, saw over 2000 people sign petitions and march through Lytham’s streets.
Mark said: “It was an overwhelming, emotional day. People of all ages, some who had never protested about anything in their lives, joined us to show their support.”
“There was a great sense of community that day and that’s something that is becoming rare these days.”
Old industrial land in Lytham Quays is being developed to provide over 200 new houses and flats. The influx of people and proposed regeneration in the area will place extra demand on resources already struggling to cope.
Mark said: “Lytham is going to rapidly grow over the next few years. Hundreds of new homes and flats are being built.”
“If our office closed, the other branches would have been put under too much pressure.”
The nearest branch from the Warton Street office, over half a mile away would have made an already difficult journey impossible for some of Lytham’s elderly residents.
Mark said: “The council said inconvenienced customers could use the bus to travel to nearby branches. They don’t take into account though that the elderly and people with buggies can’t even get on them because the platforms are too high.”
Concerns were also expressed with vulnerable elderly people travelling further. Mark commented: “In today’s unsafe society their safety would be greatly compromised if they have to travel further with their money.”
Richard Collins, 51, of Mythop Road, Lytham said: “My mother comes here every week for her pension. She’s independent but finds it hard to get around. We both felt very strongly about the proposals and joined the demonstrations to keep the post office open.”
Julie Broadley, 46, of Ballam Road, Lytham added: “It’s not just a post office. Mark and his family have been here as long as I can remember. Everyone knows them. It’s a great achievement for them and the people in the community that it’s staying open.”
Campaigns to save other blacklisted post offices in Lancashire are on going. However, Post Office bosses released initial closure dates this week, making their futures look uncertain.
After a six week consultation, Post Office bosses announced Lytham’s Warton Street branch would remain open to the public.
This comes after hundreds of angry people joined a mass protest through Lytham’s streets to save their local post office.
Postmaster Mark Bamforth was ecstatic with the news: “We were overjoyed when we heard the news. The family have worked here for 44 years; my mum still works with us. It’s as much a part of us as it is a part of the local community.”
“All our customers are so happy and relieved that their hard work has paid off and their local branch is staying open.”
However, as people in Lytham celebrated, locals in Wigan were outraged when their post office was added to the list of branches to shut in the North West.
Newburgh post office in Wigan will close in replacement for Warton Street, Lytham.
Ann Maudsley, 67, of Ranleigh Drive, Wigan said: “Why should our local post office close because another one has stayed open. They shouldn’t be closing at all. It’s ridiculous.”
Mark shared his unhappiness with this decision, “Obviously we’re dismayed that the branch in Wigan might have to shut instead of us. It shouldn’t be tit for tat.”
The campaign to keep the post office in Lytham open, headed by Fylde MP Michael Jacks and Mark and his family, saw over 2000 people sign petitions and march through Lytham’s streets.
Mark said: “It was an overwhelming, emotional day. People of all ages, some who had never protested about anything in their lives, joined us to show their support.”
“There was a great sense of community that day and that’s something that is becoming rare these days.”
Old industrial land in Lytham Quays is being developed to provide over 200 new houses and flats. The influx of people and proposed regeneration in the area will place extra demand on resources already struggling to cope.
Mark said: “Lytham is going to rapidly grow over the next few years. Hundreds of new homes and flats are being built.”
“If our office closed, the other branches would have been put under too much pressure.”
The nearest branch from the Warton Street office, over half a mile away would have made an already difficult journey impossible for some of Lytham’s elderly residents.
Mark said: “The council said inconvenienced customers could use the bus to travel to nearby branches. They don’t take into account though that the elderly and people with buggies can’t even get on them because the platforms are too high.”
Concerns were also expressed with vulnerable elderly people travelling further. Mark commented: “In today’s unsafe society their safety would be greatly compromised if they have to travel further with their money.”
Richard Collins, 51, of Mythop Road, Lytham said: “My mother comes here every week for her pension. She’s independent but finds it hard to get around. We both felt very strongly about the proposals and joined the demonstrations to keep the post office open.”
Julie Broadley, 46, of Ballam Road, Lytham added: “It’s not just a post office. Mark and his family have been here as long as I can remember. Everyone knows them. It’s a great achievement for them and the people in the community that it’s staying open.”
Campaigns to save other blacklisted post offices in Lancashire are on going. However, Post Office bosses released initial closure dates this week, making their futures look uncertain.
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