MP calls for Post Offices to reopen (From Basingstoke Gazette)

MP calls for Post Offices to reopen

8:00am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

By David Connop Price »

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BASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has called for two north Hampshire Post Offices to reopen after describing a closure consultation as “a sham”.

The MP spoke out after a consumer watchdog claimed the consultation process for the closure of 2,500 Post Office branches nationwide was flawed.

Consumer Focus’ report found 2.7million tried to air their views through writing to their MP, taking part in newspaper campaigns or other means, but the Post Office reported receiving only 190,000 formal responses.

That meant that, when combined with 15,000 responses sent to the watchdog’s predecessor Postwatch, only one in 13 people effectively contributed to the formal decision making process to close post offices.

Mrs Miller described the report’s findings as “shocking” and called for the Post Office to review its decision to close “two of Basingstoke’s top performing branches” – Old Basing and Kings Furlong – saying little regard had been paid to residents’ views and concerns.

She said: “This report confirms that the consultation was a sham. The lack of weight given to the consultation process meant that residents’ very real concerns were effectively dismissed without consideration.

“Basingstoke lost a further two well-used and much-needed Post Offices as a result of the last round of cuts, leaving those left still struggling to cope.”

Sue Dakin, a Post Office external relations manager, said there had been a massive publicity campaign for the consultation.

She added: “While any decision on a Post Office closure is difficult, the fact remains that when the Network Change programme ended last summer, more than 99 per cent of the public had seen no change to their local Post Office branch or were within one mile by road of an alternative branch.”

Comments(11)

king_of_basingstoke says...
2:18pm Tue 9 Mar 10

But Carlos - it's not just the MP's at it. There are plenty of our local councillors dipping their hands in our pockets.
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As far as Post Offices go I have to give the current Mayor, Brian Gurden a mention. His band of four Liberal Democrat councillors in Brighton Hill have allowed the former Beechdown School site to be used for Sheltered OAP housing but alas they have no local Post Office. However, thanks to them ticking the planning boxes they do have two Pizza shops and two chemists 100 yards apart. They can enjoy the walk via the new footpath that has never been completed properly paid for from the proceeds of the sale. I suspect the OAP's will want to get out because they thought it would be a brilliant idea to put a teenage attracting games area right outside! They shoot, they score! In fact they waste alot of our money Carlos. The last couple of weeks have seen them lift the block paving near Asda that is only a few years old, and re-jig it. I guess this is not work carried out under warranty :-)
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Best of all, for me, is the totally unnecessary rebuilding of a playpark in Gershwin Road some 100 metres from a similar facility that already exists. This single act of stupidity is rumoured to be costing £75,000. Or in English a little shy of 10 years worth of Councillor Allowances (or part time cleaner wages). So whilst I agree with you that what our MPs do with our money is shameful, don't overlook the utter abuse of our money by local councillors or which there are *60* at nearly £10k each per year. THAT IS THE MOST SUPREME WASTE OF OUR MONEY KNOWN TO MANKIND.