News Closure threat to Post Office
Local politicians have spoken out about plans to close a much-used Goole post office.
Westfield Avenue Post Office is at risk after it emerged this week that it is one of 45 post offices in the East Riding earmarked for closure. Foggathorpe Post Office is also under threat and Reedness Post Office could be replaced by an 'Outreach' service, which would provide post office services for three hours a week.
A six-week long public consultation has begun into the potential closures. Goole MP Ian Cawsey said: "The proposals to close Westfield Avenue Post Office and to have outreach post office services in Reedness are now open for consultation.
"So are the proposals to keep post offices in Airmyn, Hedley Court in Goole, Hook, Old Goole, Rawcliffe, Rawcliffe Bridge and Snaith. So whether you agree with the proposals for your area or you want the Post Office to think again, now is the time to have your say. Most people agree that at a cost of £4 million a week to the taxpayer we cannot just go on as before, especially as branches have closed in an unplanned way as a result."
East Riding ward councillor for Goole North, Keith Moore, pointed out: "I never for one second thought that Westfield Avenue post office would be on the list.
"I, like a lot of other people, am outraged. I am going to mount a campaign and do all I can. There is no alternative to this, this serves a large area of the community, elderly people can't get down to the other post office and there is no car parking facilities there.
"It is also not big enough to take the extra customers."
He added: "It's not just the post office that will go but all the services with it such as the ATM, business banking, bill payments, parcel post and the retail side of it.
"I believe that enough people use it to be able to keep it open."
The Government has already undertaken a 12-week consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK-wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2,500 whilst continuing to provide funding to support a more sustainable network in the future.
Prospective Goole MP Andrew Percy, said: "The Government should be ashamed of themselves. Last year I launched a petition against Post Office closures which thousands of residents took the opportunity to sign. Instead of listening to those concerns, the Government has decided to press ahead with their closure programme despite what the public think."
Mr Cawsey added: "I am slightly sceptical about the Tories' crocodile tears on this matter. Thousands and thousands of branches closed under the Tories without any concern expressed by them at the time.
"But I accept they've closed under Labour as well and this is the first attempt to plan out a viable future for the network that will stop the slow bleeding to death of the service. However, that is not to say that the Post Office's proposals are therefore the only way to achieve this.
"This is what this consultation is all about. It's time for local people to have a say and I will ensure that all comments are passed on to the senior management of the Post Office.
"I have told the Post Office that I will be collecting all of the comments from local people and I cannot stress enough how the number of people who respond will be crucial in persuading the Post Office to listen to our views."
The consultation began on Tuesday and will be open until November 12. Anybody who wishes to send in their comments can do so in writing to Ian Cawsey at The Courtyard, Boothferry Road, Goole, DN14 6AE or emailed to cawseyi@parliament.uk or can be left online at www.iancawsey.co.uk.
Comments must be received by November 12. If anybody would like advice on how to object, they can contact Keith Moore on 07737586949 or view a model letter either at Westfield Avenue Post Office or in the Goole Times offices.
Published on 4th October 2007 in News.
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