Outrage over pending post office closures

From the The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, first published Wednesday 12th Dec 2007.

THOUSANDS of people across Chippenham have vowed to fight Royal Mail after it announced four post offices in the area would be axed.

The company has lined post offices in Kington St Michael, Bradenstoke, Corsham and Lowden for the chop as early as February.

They have also announced that the Yatton Keynell, Hullavington and Lacock post offices are likely to be replaced in favour of an outreach service operating for as little as 13-hours a week.

The news has come up against a surge of rage from local people who have all waged a war on the post office giant.

Helen Kemp, from Hullavington, has said she has no option other than to sell her home and move because she relies so heavily on the village post office.

She said: "If the post office was to shut there is no doubt in my mind that I would have to sell up and move.

"I need to use the post office daily for the editing business I run from home.

"I think Royal Mail have acted in such a callous and disgusting manner - it's all about saving pennies and no thought is given to the people.

"I have lived here eight years and to consider moving is heartbreaking."

Many customers were even more incensed after discovering their postmasters were made to sign confidentiality agreements prohibiting them to give any advance warning.

Ex-postmistress the Lowden branch Lyn Hartland said: "The manner in which people have been silenced in order to reduce people's reactions is disgusting.

"We were sent out parcels of leaflets for our customers saying we face closure on Friday and that was the first any of us knew about it.

"Royal Mail are singling out village post offices but don't realise they are the only point of contact for hundreds of elderly and infirm users."

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has vowed to join the fight and campaign for the post offices to remain open.

He said: "I am quite prepared to create a big and noisy campaign to support this - I am outraged by the decision.

"The post offices are integral to the villages and are a lifeline for many, many people.

"People are furious and there is no way they will let this lie - we will see this to the very end."

In total 22 post offices in Wiltshire face closure and a further 11 have been earmarked for the outreach programme.

One of the biggest concerns is that many of the post office users in villages around Chippenham are elderly or infirm and cannot travel to the neighbouring towns to use the service.

Wheelchair bound Muriel Halence from Yatton Keynell said: "Where can I go - there is no way I can get a bus to the next post office.

"I am so disappointed and shocked - I use the post office a lot each week."

Royal Mail has announced it will be closing around 2,500 branches around the country early next year.

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