Post Offices Update
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This second edition of Update bring the latest news and Best Practice with regard to the Post Office closure programme for Warwickshire branches.
There has been a lot of activity in many of our branch areas, and a number of public meetings have been held, including one in Shire Hall, Warwick on 9th July. The questions and responses from that meeting are included later in this briefing.
The Warwickshire Observatory has also produced a brief report for each branch giving demographic and other information that may be of assistance to those running local campaigns. However, as has been stated many times previously, it is local knowledge and local campaigns that will have the most impact.
Please remember to share your data with both your Borough or District Council and with Warwickshire County Council so that each of those Authorities can make an informed response to the programme. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do we challenge the assumptions made by Post Office Ltd?
Firstly, get hold of the Branch Access Report, then use local people to check out the information given:
• Is the demographic data correct? (Post Office Ltd used the 2001 Census – if you have a Parish Plan or community audit you may have more current information)
• What additional Post Office services are available (shop or newsagent don’t count!)
• How about getting into the local branch or the alternatives?
• Is the stated distance to the proposed alternative branch correct?
• What is the terrain between the branches? See also Best Practice
• Are the bus timetables accurate, for instance? What about disabled access? How long do you have to wait between arriving at the other branch and getting a bus back?
• What other local facilities might be affected by the closure? If the only shop is in the branch then that will also be affected. However, even if it is separate from the branch it may be affected by people going elsewhere for postal services and not shopping locally
• Is there a post box in the wall – and will that still be in use if the branch closes? See below
• How far away is the nearest ATM – and does that charge for use?
Q. When do we have to get our information together by?
As soon as possible! The closing date for the consultation is 4th August, however if the Parish and Borough/District and County Council are to incorporate their information in their responses they will need it at least a week before that. You will probably also want to let the local residents know what you have found so that they can incorporate the information in their second letter (who says they have to stop at one?)
Q. How will we post letters if the branch closes?
If your local branch includes a posting box in the wall then Post Office Ltd will have been in discussion with the postmaster to determine if, in the event of closure, they would be prepared to keep the box there. Some postmasters have declined as they are concerned that they will still have people coming into the premises and expecting to find other Post Office services, which they can no longer supply. Royal Mail will have to make a planning application to provide posting boxes and there will be an interim period between closure and the installation of a new post box. It is not clear at this stage what arrangement will be made to cover this period
Q. How will the closure affect our postal deliveries?
Post Office branches are currently used as a repository for mail that is waiting to be delivered, with the postman walking or cycling back to collect the next sack load (they could hardly be expected to walk around with the post for a whole village!) If the branch closes this facility will no longer be available but Post Office Ltd say that Royal Mail are investigating other options including providing “drop boxes” (see above re planning permission) or using private dwellings (after security checking) – as currently happens in a number of locations around the country. |
Timeline
Here are the suggested dates for activity up to the end of the consultation period:
| Date | Activity |
| w/c 14/7 | Collect the data as outlined in this Update, plus anything else that may be relevant to your case |
| w/c 21/7 | Compile your data into a bullet-point report. Put it onto the local notice boards and in the branch window, circulate it to residents and remember to sent it to you Parish, District/Borough and County Council using the contacts at the end of this Update |
| w/c 28/7 | Check that the Councils detailed above have received the data and see if there is anything they feel should be added |
| 30/7 | Send your final submission to Post Office Ltd to reach them in good time (use recorded delivery as well as email to be sure it gets there!) |
| 4/8 | Closing date for consultation |
| Approximately 2 weeks | Post Office Ltd announce final decisions |
| No defined timeline | Branches close |
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Best Practice
Here are some suggestions that have proven effective in other areas:
Use your local community: use local people and allocate tasks according to people’s strengths or interests, so that no one person is expected to do everything.
Walk the routes between branches: make a note of features along the way such as lack of pavements or street lighting. Are there any steep hills, busy roads to cross or other features that would make the route impractical for walkers? Include this in your final report.
Find out if there are any developments proposed in your area: check out the Local Development Plan to see if your area has been allocated for housing or other development, and ask your Borough or District Council if there are any planning applications in the pipeline. Post Office Ltd could not know about these factors, but they are relevant if they are likely to be built in the next few years (current economic climate not withstanding!). If the sites are unlikely to come forward for many years then this will be less relevant.
Keep your report short and to the point: Concentrate on challenging the Branch Access Report or bringing forward factual matters that could not have been known by Post Office Ltd. Keep the report short and use bullet points rather than long and rambling sentences. |
What Information Do The Local Authorities Have About Our Area?
The information below has been collated by the Warwickshire Observatory from a number of sources. If you spot inaccuracies or feel that there is additional information available then please follow the steps outlined in this issue of Update to produce your own report. Don’t forget to send it to your Parish, Borough/District and County Council using the contacts list at the end of this document - and to encourage your residents to write again to Post Office Ltd including the updated information. |