EDITOR'S CHOICE NEWS FROM THE PEWS News from the Pews September 4 MUSIC REVIEW: Neil Duncan at the Reading Festival REVIEW: Live music, Agincourt at Camberley ADVERTISING FEATURES Click here to view a selection of advertising features that have appeared in your Gazette EVENTS You can now add your own events to our events calendar GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Betting firm pulls back from takeover 2 Kim takes pride in new office 3 Town seek first win 4 'As good as it gets' 5 Goodall breaks into top 200 in the world 6 Town play out dour draw 7 Tributes paid to family GP 8 Vase task looks easier 9 Club claim 11 medals 10 Alexander survives tumours to start mainstream school Today | 7 Days 1 Are we really grumpy people? 2 Spy cameras go on trial in cabs 3 Proposed cafe to act as youth base 4 It’s a fare cop as bus firm corrects mistake 5 Calendar girls strike a pose 1940s-style 6 Developer says it is too early for Eli Lilly site application 7 Parking fees go mobile 8 Customer angry over wait for BT to fix line 9 Calendar girls caught up in national media frenzy 10 Residents complain of homes plagued by rats

Comment

Customers and staff of the post office in Bishopswood Road, Tadley, led by shopkeeper Tara Patel (front in purple blouse), campaign to stop the Post Office Card Account from being scrapped

THE OWNERS of a Tadley post office say their business may be forced to close if the national contract to run basic banking services at Post Office branches is lost.

Tara and Vin Patel have run the post office, in Bishopswood Road, Tadley, since 1988. As well as offering postal services and groceries, their shop allows customers to use the Post Office Card Account (POCA) which provides those without bank accounts with a way of withdrawing their benefit or pension payments from any Post Office counter in the country.

The Post Office has the contract to run the POCA until 2010, but the contract to run it thereafter will be put out to tender, to comply with EU law.

The decision on who will win it is due at the end of July.

According to The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP), if the contract is awarded to another provider, the loss of income could force around 3,000 more Post Offices to shut.

Mrs Patel said: "If the Government does decide to take the POCA away from the Post Office, my business will have to close. People won't come in as often and won't spend so much money here.

"People trust the Post Office more than they trust banks and they like coming into a friendly place to collect their money.

"We are taking part in a campaign organised by The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters and are encouraging our customers to write to MP Sir George Young to say that they want the service to stay at the Post Office."

Sir George, MP for North West Hampshire, said: "I have received cards from residents in Tadley and the rest of my constituency on the POCA issue.

"POCA is vital for people who don't have bank accounts. I think the Government ought to be doing much more to encourage people to use Post Offices."

Sir George added: "The Post Office has a strong bid because of its existing network. I hope that it wins the contract."

8:37am Sunday 29th June 2008

Print

Email this

Comment