Post Office Closure Threat
Posted on July 8, 2008
Post Office Ltd today announced the proposed closure of 19 of the 88[1] existing post offices in Bedfordshire, with Eaton Bray post office among those threatened.
Now begins a six week local public consultation on the Area Plan; this will include three public meetings to be held over the next month, where residents will be able to hear from Post Office bosses. These meetings include:
- Wednesday, July 23 (12.30-2.00pm) at Vandyke School Theatre in Leighton Buzzard, and
- Thursday, 7 August (5.30-7.30pm) at South Bedfordshire District Council offices, High Street North, Dunstable.
Mid Beds District Council, said: "This is a significant issue of considerable concern for our communities. Those most badly affected will be the most vulnerable members of these communities - the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
"It is important that people send individual letters giving their reasons for opposing the specific closure of particular post offices. These have had a much greater impact than general petitions. So getting as many people as possible to write in defence of their post offices is vital.
"I am sure that many parish and town councils will want to make a formal representation against the closures. Other organisations and businesses in the affected areas should contact their local town or parish council and work with them to make a combined, formal representation, as well as encouraging individuals to write in".
Edlesborough Post Office is not marked for closure, and can be found under Post Offices "proposed to remain in the Network" in the Dunstable area.
To obtain a copy of the detailed Area Plan proposal for Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and South Lincolnshire, visit www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or write to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation (no stamp required) or email [email protected] . Consultation is due to end on August 26 2008.
[1] www.yell.com/super/post+offices/bedfordshire
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July 8, 2008
,Joe Plumb says:With Edlesborough Post Office not threatened, and only about ½ mile away from Eaton Bray Post Office across the meads, this could be a tough fight for Eaton Bray.
July 16, 2008
,Andrew Selous, MP for South West Beds says:I am delighted to learn that the postmasters and postmistresses locally want to continue to operate their post offices serving local people.
I have spoken to all the post offices and will be presenting petitions in Parliament on behalf of each post office, as well as attending the meeting at South Bedfordshire District Council on August 7 at 5.30pm to 7.30pm to oppose these closures.
I am also concerned to see that Post Office Ltd in their description of Bedfordshire in their Area Plan proposals mention Bedford, Luton, Dunstable, Biggleswade, Sandy and Flitwick as the principal Bedfordshire towns.
It is alarming that they do not know that Leighton Buzzard and Linslade is Bedfordshire's third largest town and Houghton Regis the fourth largest and that both towns are considerably bigger than Biggleswade, Sandy and Flitwick".
I would urge all local people concerned about these closure proposals to contact the Post Office with their objections by the August 26.
The average constituency is having around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of its post offices closed, but in South West Bedfordshire, we are facing nearly 30 per cent being closed.
July 16, 2008
,Jaspal Sidhu, Eaton Bray sub-postmaster says:The closure of Eaton Bray post office just doesn't make sense.
If the branch closes, elderly customers without transport would have to trek to the post office in Edlesborough, or rely on an infrequent bus service. That's a long way for elderly people to go.
We have had a lot of support from local businesses that use the post office - they have written letters already.
It's part of the community. People come here to get their stamps, etc, and they meet other people and have a chat.
July 20, 2008
,Helen Pell says:I have already sent a letter about the proposed ridiculous closure of Eaton Bray Post Office but am backing it up with this email. I hope the people that make any final decision will take notice of all the reasons the local residents have in opposing this closure and actually visit Eaton Bray and Edlesborough to see why out of the 2 it should be Edlesborough that closes.
July 23, 2008
,teresa christie says:i am a regular user of eaton bray post office. i can walk there with my children and dog and know i can get into the shop with my buggy. and tie my dog up out side. i cannot take my buggy into the edlesborough post office (it dosnt fit through the door). also there is nowhere to tie up my dog. it would be terrible to lose the post office it is such an important meeting place for some folk.
August 1, 2008
,Dunstable Gazette says:Since the Dunstable Gazette and its sister paper the Luton News launched a campaign to save our local post offices two weeks ago, readers have responded in their droves to register their displeasure and sent in their protest forms.
But if you haven't added your name to the campaign, now's the time to do it.
All forms sent in to us will be passed on to Post Office chiefs by the August 26 consultation deadline.
Click here for the protest form to fill in and send back to us.