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Sign row leaves local Post Office to face closure

The sub-postmaster of Rawcliffe village Post Office has this week spoken out over his fears that his rural business could be dying and that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) is doing nothing to help resuscitate it.

The future of many rural post offices around the country has been threatened by the fact that many of the services once offered exclusively by post offices - such as pensions, TV licences and road tax - can now be handled elsewhere. But Rawcliffe post office sub-postmaster Gary Brown was dealt another blow when ERYC refused permission for him to erect two signs in the village, directing the public to the post office.

Mr Brown applied for two small signs at each side of the village green to let people know where the post office. It is tucked away at the back of The Green, obscured in summer by leafy trees and hidden away in the dark days of winter.

But disappointment lay ahead when the Council replied with a blunt 'no', stating that businesses were not allowed to erect signs anywhere in East Yorkshire.

"It has taken us seven years to build this post office up and it was thriving for a while, until the government decided to pay benefits into the banks," said Gary.

"There has been a drastic decline in trade over the last year and it's heartbreaking to see what is happening - we have lost three-quarters of our customers in pensions and family allowance benefits through government insistence.

"This latest move by the East Riding Council will definitely affect our future. There are a lot of people going through the village and, over the years, many people have admitted that they didn't know the post office was here."

Following the refusal from ERYC, Gary turned to Rawcliffe Parish Council, where he sits as a parish councillor, for assistance. But the parish council backed ERYC's decision to refuse the application, claiming that it would "open the floodgates" if the post office were to have signs erected, since every local business could demand the same.

"I was a little upset that Rawcliffe Parish Council was against my application but they have got to be seen to be fair, and I think they were being fair by saying that every business would want a sign up on the village green if we had one there," added Gary.

"However, I still can't really understand why neither council has helped us to stay alive."

Gary has contacted Goole MP Ian Cawsey and the Rural Business Agency on the matter, in a bid to change ERYC's minds, but the support offered by these parties has been to no avail.

Mr Cawsey told the Goole Times: "I have strongly supported Gary Brown and have contacted East Riding of Yorkshire Council on his behalf. I cannot see any reason why his request would be turned down. Mr Brown provided proof to the council to support his claims that other businesses in the area did have signs.

"East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been a big supporter of the local post offices, this would have been the perfect opportunity to make a positive stance."

But a spokesperson for ERYC said this week: "The council doesn't put up directional signs for commercial premises. We do put up brown signs for tourist attractions, but a post office would not meet the criteria."

Published on 2nd August 2007 in News.

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