Axe falls on 44 post offices in Scotland
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| PAST THE POST: Hyndland Post Office, in Glasgow's west end, is one of those facing closure under the plans. Picture: Julie Howden |
Scotland faces a "massive cull" of urban post offices with the announcement today of the planned closure of 44 branches, half in Greater Glasgow.
MPs at Westminster insisted there would be an angry political and public backlash to the "disastrous" axing of what they see as an essential community service.
The planned closures for Greater Glasgow, Central Scotland and Argyll and Bute - details of which were leaked to The Herald - are the first instalment of six regional cuts across Scotland in the coming months and which, campaigners claim, may lead to the loss of hundreds of urban and rural branches.
A six-week consultation on the proposed cuts will now begin but MPs have already dismissed it as a sham, insisting that the closures are, as far as the Post Office and government are concerned, a "fait accompli".
Today's announcement follows a damaging postal strike which last night appeared to be all but over after union leaders ratified a deal on pay and modernisation aimed at halting months of disruption to mail deliveries. Members will now vote on the deal.
Increased competition from online services and banks means UK-wide four million fewer people a week are using post offices than just two years ago. Consequently, the network is losing up to £4m a week.
In March 2001 there were 1933 branches across Scotland. By March this year the number had fallen to 1651.
Last night, Mike Weir, the SNP's business spokesman, was scathing about the latest planned cuts for Scotland, saying it would have "a hugely detrimental effect on many communities". He added: "If this goes ahead, it will make a mockery of the government's claims of promoting financial inclusion. It will undermine the economic heart of communities."
Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrats' Scottish spokesman, blamed the government's "systematic withdrawal" of business from post offices for the crisis.
The MP for Orkney and Shetland pointed out how there would be a political price to pay for Gordon Brown's government, given the latest round of planned closures were in Labour-held constituencies.
"These are frontline services being removed for the convenience of the government rather than for the convenience of the people. I would confidently predict an angry backlash from Labour voters in Labour seats and given the drubbing the party took in May, this will be making Labour back benchers at Westminster very jumpy," he added.
His colleague Jo Swinson, who represents East Dunbartonshire, branded the changes "disastrous" and denounced the consultation process as "a token exercise".
Labour's Ann McKechin, the MP for Glasgow North, condemned the cull as "totally unacceptable", noting how half in her local area were earmarked for the chop. "The Post Office must think again; these post offices are more than just a business, they are an important part of our local communities."
While Greater Glasgow with 22 planned closures suffers the brunt, seven are earmarked for Argyll and Bute, a similar
number for Falkirk, five for West Dunbartonshire and three for Stirling.
Alan Reid, LibDem MP for Argyll and Bute, was delighted that every village post office in his constituency had escaped the axe. The government had announced in March that one in five post offices was to close. This would have meant 20 in Argyll and Bute. However, there were only seven on their hit list and they were in towns.
Mr Reid said: "I'm delighted every village post office in my constituency has been spared the axe. However, I will still fight tooth and nail to save the seven town post offices."
The Post Office tried to reassure its customers last night.
A spokeswoman said the announcement today would show "almost 90% of the total area's population will see no change at all to their nearest branch and 99.9% of the
population will either see no change to their nearest branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch".
Last December, Alistair Darling, the then trade secretary, announced that 2500 branches across the UK would close by 2009, with 500 replaced with an "outreach" service in, say, village halls.
There was growing concern last night many neighbourhood convenience stores would also be forced out of business if associated post offices closed.
Postwatch Scotland said an economic impact study was required as part of the consultation. Director Tricia Dow said: "We have to look at the wider economic impact of post office closures especially in rural areas where the store and post office may be the only shop in the village."
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Posted by: BM, Glasgow on 10:19pm Mon 22 Oct 07
New Labour's butchery of the country's industry and infrastructure is getting as bad as that of the Tories under Maggie, if not worse. Why should anyone vote for a party which destroys this country with these cuts, and others with their illegal warmongering?
New Labour's butchery of the country's industry and infrastructure is getting as bad as that of the Tories under Maggie, if not worse. Why should anyone vote for a party which destroys this country with these cuts, and others with their illegal warmongering?
Posted by: peterspussy, Fife on 10:31pm Mon 22 Oct 07
This is not just about privatisation. This is about control and restriction of information and the population.
This is not just about privatisation. This is about control and restriction of information and the population.
Posted by: Curley Bill, the southwest on 10:46pm Mon 22 Oct 07
'Labour's Ann McKechin, the MP for Glasgow North, condemned the cull as "totally unacceptable".'
Is it so unacceptable that she will find the courage to cross the floor?
Imagine if she did - a principled unionist. Who'd a thunk it?
'Labour's Ann McKechin, the MP for Glasgow North, condemned the cull as "totally unacceptable".'
Is it so unacceptable that she will find the courage to cross the floor?
Imagine if she did - a principled unionist. Who'd a thunk it?
Posted by: Scamp on 10:48pm Mon 22 Oct 07
Blame for this falls directly on the regulator Postcom and it's almost fanatical approach to competition and Labour has let it - and the other regulators - put competition above national strategic interest.
Allowing companies to cherry pick the Royal Mail's profitable services and geographic areas looks to me like a deliberate attempt to destroy the Royal Mail. No other country on the planet apart perhaps from the USA would do anything quite so stupid.
Blame for this falls directly on the regulator Postcom and it's almost fanatical approach to competition and Labour has let it - and the other regulators - put competition above national strategic interest.
Allowing companies to cherry pick the Royal Mail's profitable services and geographic areas looks to me like a deliberate attempt to destroy the Royal Mail. No other country on the planet apart perhaps from the USA would do anything quite so stupid.
Posted by: Colin B, Bearsden on 11:09pm Mon 22 Oct 07
Wonder if this is funding the workshy postmen?
Wonder if this is funding the workshy postmen?
Posted by: Tom McAlister on 1:00am Tue 23 Oct 07
.
A few weeks ago, a rally in protest at this asset stripping was held in Coventry. it had been announced that a prime city centre site ( sorting office was to be sold for erm 'redevelopement', perhaps to be replaced with an out of town rented shed.
Three ' Mr speakers' attended the rally representing the Labour party.
Mouth musak support for the comrades,don't you know.
Robinson, Ainsworth and Cunningham. Robinson MP was a senior government minister ( Paymaster General, Treasury and one of the tools partly responsible for the situation the comrades found themselves in. I was gobsmacked by their "we're in this together ' brothers and comrades. Sweet jesus and the comrades had been crucified and hung out to have their flesh dismembered and "asset stripped" by these carpet bagging pals of beezness.
[bold]and the comrades of the union applauded them for their empty platitudes.[/bold]
... and I wonder if the union comrades would have been so generous in their applause of these creatures of spin from the peoples party if they had revealed that not only was one prime site to be asset stripped but also known to themselves was the certainty that the main post office in the city was also open to offers?
Turkeys and Christmas eh.
...and the union comrades are still giving fiscal support to these creatures. You couldn't make it up , could you?
.
.
A few weeks ago, a rally in protest at this asset stripping was held in Coventry. it had been announced that a prime city centre site ( sorting office was to be sold for erm 'redevelopement', perhaps to be replaced with an out of town rented shed.
Three ' Mr speakers' attended the rally representing the Labour party.
Mouth musak support for the comrades,don't you know.
Robinson, Ainsworth and Cunningham. Robinson MP was a senior government minister ( Paymaster General, Treasury and one of the tools partly responsible for the situation the comrades found themselves in. I was gobsmacked by their "we're in this together ' brothers and comrades. Sweet jesus and the comrades had been crucified and hung out to have their flesh dismembered and "asset stripped" by these carpet bagging pals of beezness.
and the comrades of the union applauded them for their empty platitudes.
... and I wonder if the union comrades would have been so generous in their applause of these creatures of spin from the peoples party if they had revealed that not only was one prime site to be asset stripped but also known to themselves was the certainty that the main post office in the city was also open to offers?
Turkeys and Christmas eh.
...and the union comrades are still giving fiscal support to these creatures. You couldn't make it up , could you?
.
Posted by: Jack on 6:59am Tue 23 Oct 07
The business model to save every single Post Office in existence is simple: Make them real Banks owned by the State. Loans at 3%, £5 maximum charge for unauthorised borrowing or overdrafts. Preferential mortages at 3.5%. If they wanted to they could have. Every single punter in the UK would have flocked to the "State Bank Post Office" The only ones screaming would have been the "real banks" until they were put out of their misery. Easy when you know how, isn't it?
The business model to save every single Post Office in existence is simple: Make them real Banks owned by the State. Loans at 3%, £5 maximum charge for unauthorised borrowing or overdrafts. Preferential mortages at 3.5%. If they wanted to they could have. Every single punter in the UK would have flocked to the "State Bank Post Office" The only ones screaming would have been the "real banks" until they were put out of their misery. Easy when you know how, isn't it?
Posted by: Mike, Edinburgh on 7:32am Tue 23 Oct 07
On the Scotsman report it had Sarwar saying he didnt think it would apply to built up areas. What a joke this guy is between his crooked son and his blackmailing the local Muslim Community to kick in 300,000 quid for the Labour Party.
These ratbags have got away with it only because Scots thought they had no choice. Well we know better now with our own Government run by Scots for Scots who dont have their snouts in the Westminster Trough.
As far as the Scottish Unions are concerned, they are the lowest of the low. They keep kicking in members money without consideration of the members own individual political belief. You can bet if it was done on this basis the London Controlled New Labour Traitors here in Scotland would be knitting socks with their posteriors.
Vote every New Labour Scottish Mp out at the next election and make sure sanwar's crooked sons dont get in anywhere except jail.
On the Scotsman report it had Sarwar saying he didnt think it would apply to built up areas. What a joke this guy is between his crooked son and his blackmailing the local Muslim Community to kick in 300,000 quid for the Labour Party.
These ratbags have got away with it only because Scots thought they had no choice. Well we know better now with our own Government run by Scots for Scots who dont have their snouts in the Westminster Trough.
As far as the Scottish Unions are concerned, they are the lowest of the low. They keep kicking in members money without consideration of the members own individual political belief. You can bet if it was done on this basis the London Controlled New Labour Traitors here in Scotland would be knitting socks with their posteriors.
Vote every New Labour Scottish Mp out at the next election and make sure sanwar's crooked sons dont get in anywhere except jail.
Posted by: Greg, Glasgow on 8:09am Tue 23 Oct 07
Personally I support the move. Firstly, as the pictured Hyndland Post Office which I use frequently just moved the new location.. it is horrid, and no improvement from the old location. Too small, a mess of a place and you have to fight through the line of people waiting for stamps just to buy items in the shop, and vice versa.
Secondly, in my opinion a Post Office should be just that, a place to POST things. Not a bank, and a credit Union, and a bill point, and a stamp & frank point, and all this other nonsense they add on. Keep the focus on what you a designed to do!
Less post offices that focus on what the purpose is, make it more efficient and they'll survive!
Personally I support the move. Firstly, as the pictured Hyndland Post Office which I use frequently just moved the new location.. it is horrid, and no improvement from the old location. Too small, a mess of a place and you have to fight through the line of people waiting for stamps just to buy items in the shop, and vice versa.
Secondly, in my opinion a Post Office should be just that, a place to POST things. Not a bank, and a credit Union, and a bill point, and a stamp & frank point, and all this other nonsense they add on. Keep the focus on what you a designed to do!
Less post offices that focus on what the purpose is, make it more efficient and they'll survive!
Posted by: RETIRED....... but still switched on, Fed Up To The Teeth on 8:11am Tue 23 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Colin B[/bold] wrote:
Wonder if this is funding the workshy postmen?[/quote] COLIN B
................ (R_A_S_P_B_E_R_R_Y !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Colin B wrote:
Wonder if this is funding the workshy postmen?
COLIN B
................ (R_A_S_P_B_E_R_R_Y !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Posted by: Jim, Scotland on 8:27am Tue 23 Oct 07
Come on you lot this is a tied and tested method, worked by every colour of government in Westminster post 1953.
The biggest one was Dr Beeching, his outfit used every lie available to them, Bank Holidays were one using statistics generated on one day when these were what was wanted, result closure.
One line that did not run on Sunday, because of a land owner did not want his peace and quiet disturbed on a Sunday. The fact that no trains ran on the Sunday, were used to launder the statistics for that line and close it.
As to this Post Office closure fiasco the moves are to cover up the need to liquidate the property portfolio to gain a cash Capital in order to close the hole in the pension funds.
Come on you lot this is a tied and tested method, worked by every colour of government in Westminster post 1953.
The biggest one was Dr Beeching, his outfit used every lie available to them, Bank Holidays were one using statistics generated on one day when these were what was wanted, result closure.
One line that did not run on Sunday, because of a land owner did not want his peace and quiet disturbed on a Sunday. The fact that no trains ran on the Sunday, were used to launder the statistics for that line and close it.
As to this Post Office closure fiasco the moves are to cover up the need to liquidate the property portfolio to gain a cash Capital in order to close the hole in the pension funds.
Posted by: Gordy Broon, Fitting Snugly in the Bowels of Westminster on 8:28am Tue 23 Oct 07
Hello Fellow North Britons,
I thought we North Britons were made of sterner stuff! A few less post offices? Come on, surely you can all walk just that little bit further?
What's that? You've got a busted hip? Look, just knuckle and show some fighting spirit, can't you? Where's the spirit of Dunkirk?
Look, if you have a complaint, write it down and sent me a letter. Even better, feel free to express your disapproval at the next election by using a postal vote.
What's that? Can't hear you...
Look I have to go. Time for another elocution lesson. Almost there. "How now Broon Coo". ****.
Yours,
Former Chief Bean Counter,
Gordy
Hello Fellow North Britons,
I thought we North Britons were made of sterner stuff! A few less post offices? Come on, surely you can all walk just that little bit further?
What's that? You've got a busted hip? Look, just knuckle and show some fighting spirit, can't you? Where's the spirit of Dunkirk?
Look, if you have a complaint, write it down and sent me a letter. Even better, feel free to express your disapproval at the next election by using a postal vote.
What's that? Can't hear you...
Look I have to go. Time for another elocution lesson. Almost there. "How now Broon Coo". ****.
Yours,
Former Chief Bean Counter,
Gordy
Posted by: Question? on 9:11am Tue 23 Oct 07
Greg when did Hyndland PO move? I've been going to it for over 40 years and have always found it in the same place. The only problem I have with Hyndland PO is that it needs a bigger premises and more staff so you don't have to queue for 30 mins to post one parcel.
The PO management have been attacking the PO service from within for years now. Two deliveries reduced to one delivered at any old time of day and a wonderful range of products, just less and less opportunity to find an outlet to actually buy them. Yet with all these 'improvements' they are still losing money hand over fist. Maybe it's time for those at the top to be removed from their post (no pun intended).
Greg when did Hyndland PO move? I've been going to it for over 40 years and have always found it in the same place. The only problem I have with Hyndland PO is that it needs a bigger premises and more staff so you don't have to queue for 30 mins to post one parcel.
The PO management have been attacking the PO service from within for years now. Two deliveries reduced to one delivered at any old time of day and a wonderful range of products, just less and less opportunity to find an outlet to actually buy them. Yet with all these 'improvements' they are still losing money hand over fist. Maybe it's time for those at the top to be removed from their post (no pun intended).
Posted by: Andrew Gibson, Glasgow on 9:19am Tue 23 Oct 07
Are we not all getting a bit sentimental about our local post office popping down for a wee chat before the church coffee morning. My Dad ran a grocer and attached post office in a village near Glasgow for 10 years. He had to close in 1997 because you lot could not get in your cars fast enough when Tesco opened five miles away. The post offices are closing because they are not being used. Really ask yourself when was the last time you were in one?
Are we not all getting a bit sentimental about our local post office popping down for a wee chat before the church coffee morning. My Dad ran a grocer and attached post office in a village near Glasgow for 10 years. He had to close in 1997 because you lot could not get in your cars fast enough when Tesco opened five miles away. The post offices are closing because they are not being used. Really ask yourself when was the last time you were in one?
Posted by: Iain on 9:34am Tue 23 Oct 07
More strikes then I guess. Which probably means alot of small/one-person mail order businesses will go to the wall.
More strikes then I guess. Which probably means alot of small/one-person mail order businesses will go to the wall.
Posted by: Alan, SAVE MT POST OFFICE on 10:27am Tue 23 Oct 07
Apparently the Post Office network receives a subsidy of around 4 million pounds per week...? Not a huge sum of money for such a valued and important public service... They thought privatising British Rail would end subsidies there, but look how much funding these private companies get from the tax payer...
This is unnaceptable! I can't believe a Labour government is pressing ahead with such cuts to such a vital service. They have deliberately and consistantly been damaging the PO network for years - along with Royal Mail so they can sell it off!
First comment above is spot on!
Apparently the Post Office network receives a subsidy of around 4 million pounds per week...? Not a huge sum of money for such a valued and important public service... They thought privatising British Rail would end subsidies there, but look how much funding these private companies get from the tax payer...
This is unnaceptable! I can't believe a Labour government is pressing ahead with such cuts to such a vital service. They have deliberately and consistantly been damaging the PO network for years - along with Royal Mail so they can sell it off!
First comment above is spot on!
Posted by: Whistling in the dark on 10:44am Tue 23 Oct 07
Can you imagine the headlines if this was an SNP proposal?
That aside, the cuts are scandalous and I agree with Alan above.
Can you imagine the headlines if this was an SNP proposal?
That aside, the cuts are scandalous and I agree with Alan above.
Posted by: Bill, Maryhill on 10:48am Tue 23 Oct 07
[italic]Labour's Ann McKechin, the MP for Glasgow North, condemned the cull as "totally unacceptable", noting how half in her local area were earmarked for the chop. "The Post Office must think again; these post offices are more than just a business, they are an important part of our local communities."[/italic]
I find blatant hypocrisy and naked opportunism "totally unacceptable" as well.
Labour's Ann McKechin, the MP for Glasgow North, condemned the cull as "totally unacceptable", noting how half in her local area were earmarked for the chop. "The Post Office must think again; these post offices are more than just a business, they are an important part of our local communities."
I find blatant hypocrisy and naked opportunism "totally unacceptable" as well.
Posted by: Rab the Ranter, Carluke on 11:14am Tue 23 Oct 07
Part of the Union Dividend and yet another EssEnPee broken promise.
Come on Wendy! Tell us the way it is!
Part of the Union Dividend and yet another EssEnPee broken promise.
Come on Wendy! Tell us the way it is!
Posted by: george paterson on 11:24am Tue 23 Oct 07
Ann McKechin has some brass neck! It is her lot who have perpetrated this sell off to privatisation. Who in 1997 would have believed that a Labour government would have privatised the Post Office and contrary to the promise from the "fat cat" Prentice did not re nationalise British Rail ? If this had been in their Manifesto would they have been elected? Sadly, because everybody wanted to gub the Tories, they would have been. Now with illegal wars, highly paid mercenaries fighting in the payroll of private firms and Lord Coe making millions out of the scandals in the 2012 Olympics it seems the only way to be successful is to be a liar a cheat or a Labour apparatchik. Labour MPs in Scotland object to New Labour policies but have not got the guts or the decency to vote against these measures. Get rid of them. They betray us all.
Ann McKechin has some brass neck! It is her lot who have perpetrated this sell off to privatisation. Who in 1997 would have believed that a Labour government would have privatised the Post Office and contrary to the promise from the "fat cat" Prentice did not re nationalise British Rail ? If this had been in their Manifesto would they have been elected? Sadly, because everybody wanted to gub the Tories, they would have been. Now with illegal wars, highly paid mercenaries fighting in the payroll of private firms and Lord Coe making millions out of the scandals in the 2012 Olympics it seems the only way to be successful is to be a liar a cheat or a Labour apparatchik. Labour MPs in Scotland object to New Labour policies but have not got the guts or the decency to vote against these measures. Get rid of them. They betray us all.
Posted by: Lt Commander Snoddie RCNS(Ret), Halifax NS on 11:41am Tue 23 Oct 07
Well Colin B, if it isn't "infection-ridden nurses" it's "workshy postmen"
You have a jaundice-ridden opinion about everything, obviously substituting for the lack of a life.
Well Colin B, if it isn't "infection-ridden nurses" it's "workshy postmen"
You have a jaundice-ridden opinion about everything, obviously substituting for the lack of a life.
Posted by: tcek, south lanarkshire on 12:06pm Tue 23 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Colin B[/bold] wrote:
Wonder if this is funding the workshy postmen?[/quote] Coming from a pr*ck who has never done a days graft in your life thats a bit rich Eh!
Colin B wrote:
Wonder if this is funding the workshy postmen?
Coming from a pr*ck who has never done a days graft in your life thats a bit rich Eh!
Posted by: Mrs. Jansen, Holland on 12:43pm Tue 23 Oct 07
The only post office still 'running' in the neighbourhood of our town in Holland is no more than a store where I buy my stationary, postcards and stamps. Since last year it's privately owned by a young lady, who replaced her father, with a licence to deal with limited postal services. The state owned Main Post Office, the PTT, was taken over by several private companies that have provided her staff with new uniforms. To be honest I haven't paid much attention as to what their logo is now. I pay my bills online which was encouraged by the bank, of which some are dealt with automatically. This system saves money on mutual grounds. The only service that is secured are the letterboxes, except they're not painted over yet into orange.
Another familiar 'tradition' down the drain is how it feels like and it hurts a bit.
The only post office still 'running' in the neighbourhood of our town in Holland is no more than a store where I buy my stationary, postcards and stamps. Since last year it's privately owned by a young lady, who replaced her father, with a licence to deal with limited postal services. The state owned Main Post Office, the PTT, was taken over by several private companies that have provided her staff with new uniforms. To be honest I haven't paid much attention as to what their logo is now. I pay my bills online which was encouraged by the bank, of which some are dealt with automatically. This system saves money on mutual grounds. The only service that is secured are the letterboxes, except they're not painted over yet into orange.
Another familiar 'tradition' down the drain is how it feels like and it hurts a bit.
Posted by: Gerry, Penicuik on 12:43pm Tue 23 Oct 07
The poorest and the weakest will suffer as they have neither the means or the wit to utilise other options - mostly involving IT or requiring transport.
Whether that is sufficient jusrtification to keep every post office open - some of which are less and less used - is a moot point.
To preserve everything "in aspic" costs money - taxpayers' money - and if we will the ends we have to be prepared to will the means i.e. raised taxes.
No such thing as a free lunch - as the SNP will soon find out with all their spending pledges.
The poorest and the weakest will suffer as they have neither the means or the wit to utilise other options - mostly involving IT or requiring transport.
Whether that is sufficient jusrtification to keep every post office open - some of which are less and less used - is a moot point.
To preserve everything "in aspic" costs money - taxpayers' money - and if we will the ends we have to be prepared to will the means i.e. raised taxes.
No such thing as a free lunch - as the SNP will soon find out with all their spending pledges.
Posted by: Gerry, Penicuik on 12:45pm Tue 23 Oct 07
The poorest and the weakest will suffer as they have neither the means or the wit to utilise other options - mostly involving IT or requiring transport.
Whether that is sufficient jusrtification to keep every post office open - some of which are less and less used - is a moot point.
To preserve everything "in aspic" costs money - taxpayers' money - and if we will the ends we have to be prepared to will the means i.e. raised taxes.
No such thing as a free lunch - as the SNP will soon find out with all their spending pledges.
The poorest and the weakest will suffer as they have neither the means or the wit to utilise other options - mostly involving IT or requiring transport.
Whether that is sufficient jusrtification to keep every post office open - some of which are less and less used - is a moot point.
To preserve everything "in aspic" costs money - taxpayers' money - and if we will the ends we have to be prepared to will the means i.e. raised taxes.
No such thing as a free lunch - as the SNP will soon find out with all their spending pledges.
Posted by: Jo, Gourock on 1:40pm Tue 23 Oct 07
The money spent on the current advert on prime-time TV "featuring" Joan Collins is probably a drop in the ocean, but surely must cost a fair amount of dosh that could be put to better use.
As to the spokeswoman's comment that post offices "will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch" - take this with a huge pinch of salt. One local post office, serving a largely Pension-aged population, closed down a few years ago and the alternative is a hike up a steep hill which most teenagers would find difficult to manage; the other "alternative" is in an exposed area so the poor old pensioners can freeze to death while waiting to get to the head of the queue for their pensions. These "alternatives" may well be within a road mile, but looking at the locations on a road map is no substitute for actually knowing an area.
And "consultation" be damned - these decisons are made well in advance of any publicity being given to what is being planned.
The money spent on the current advert on prime-time TV "featuring" Joan Collins is probably a drop in the ocean, but surely must cost a fair amount of dosh that could be put to better use.
As to the spokeswoman's comment that post offices "will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch" - take this with a huge pinch of salt. One local post office, serving a largely Pension-aged population, closed down a few years ago and the alternative is a hike up a steep hill which most teenagers would find difficult to manage; the other "alternative" is in an exposed area so the poor old pensioners can freeze to death while waiting to get to the head of the queue for their pensions. These "alternatives" may well be within a road mile, but looking at the locations on a road map is no substitute for actually knowing an area.
And "consultation" be damned - these decisons are made well in advance of any publicity being given to what is being planned.
Posted by: The Impartial Observer on 3:22pm Tue 23 Oct 07
Looking at the list I'm puzzled as to what the fuss is about. The Post Offices that are to close are mostly in urban areas where there is a choice of POs, and the rest are in small towns that don't need more than one PO. As a poster has already noted, many of these places have very small numbers of customers. There is of course a case for preserving POs in rural and remote areas whatever the number of customers, but not in a city like Glasgow. We shall still have many more post offices than most countries on the continent.
Some people will protest whenever anything closes, whether it's needed or not.
Looking at the list I'm puzzled as to what the fuss is about. The Post Offices that are to close are mostly in urban areas where there is a choice of POs, and the rest are in small towns that don't need more than one PO. As a poster has already noted, many of these places have very small numbers of customers. There is of course a case for preserving POs in rural and remote areas whatever the number of customers, but not in a city like Glasgow. We shall still have many more post offices than most countries on the continent.
Some people will protest whenever anything closes, whether it's needed or not.
Posted by: Rab Jones, Pollok # on 4:53pm Tue 23 Oct 07
there's always carrier pigeons.
there's always carrier pigeons.
Posted by: RMcGeddon, Clydebank on 6:13pm Tue 23 Oct 07
Obviously people are voting with their feet so post offices are used less. I'm not prepared to pay more tax so that half daft Mrs McGlumpher and her pals can have a wee chat while they pick up their pension. These folk should get a bank account. Everybody can buy stamps in shops now and you can do almost everything else on line or at the cash machine. How often do most normal folk really HAVE to go to a post office?
Obviously people are voting with their feet so post offices are used less. I'm not prepared to pay more tax so that half daft Mrs McGlumpher and her pals can have a wee chat while they pick up their pension. These folk should get a bank account. Everybody can buy stamps in shops now and you can do almost everything else on line or at the cash machine. How often do most normal folk really HAVE to go to a post office?
Posted by: p office, 9-5 on 9:03pm Tue 23 Oct 07
they're closing post offices!!
i would have thought that with the increase in internet purchases and some companies unwilling to have their staffs private parcels delivered to the work, that posts offices would be falling over themselves to be open in the evenings as a pick up point for those that work 9-5 hours (most of the population).
no business acumen at the post office then!
they're closing post offices!!
i would have thought that with the increase in internet purchases and some companies unwilling to have their staffs private parcels delivered to the work, that posts offices would be falling over themselves to be open in the evenings as a pick up point for those that work 9-5 hours (most of the population).
no business acumen at the post office then!
Posted by: P Ofiiced, Stirling on 10:26pm Tue 23 Oct 07
I would like to ask all the Labour-bashing, plaid-wrapped, heather burning wannabe-albannachs commenting here to honestly answer the following;
How often do you actually use a Post Office?
I would like to ask all the Labour-bashing, plaid-wrapped, heather burning wannabe-albannachs commenting here to honestly answer the following;
How often do you actually use a Post Office?
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