Branches proposed for closure in our area named by Post Office. See how you can have your say!
Three Post Office branches in the Winchester constituency have been proposed for closure under controversial Government plans to cut 2,500 from the network by next year.
Those marked for closure are:
Littleton Post Office, Hall Way in Littleton
Shawford Post Office, Part-time in Shawford Village Hall
Chandler's Ford Post Office, Bournemouth Road, CF
Micheldever Post Office has been proposed for conversion to so-called 'outreach' services, which invariably means a van once or twice a week will visit the area.
Prospective Winchester MP, Steve Brine, has been a consistent campaigner in support of local Post Offices. He says; "Earlier this year I think we were facing a much wider closure programme in the new Winchester constituency. We have worked very hard in recent months however, to make the case for this area and to encourage local people to stand up for their individual Post Office. It would seem they have done that because the outcome here could have been much worse.
"That will however, be scant consolation to those now threatened with closure. This Government doesn’t have a long-term vision for the future of the Post office network. A van once a week is no substitute for a full-time Post Office in the local shop. Instead of managing decline, it should be trying to bring new business opportunities to the network to increase its financial viability. We do of-course understand that they are running a business and the taxpayer cannot subside with ever-increasing sums any failing business but the Government have pulled the rug from under sub-postmasters and it didn’t have to be this way."
- Call to Action - is your local Post Office proposed for closure or replacement with an outreach service?
Write to: Tim Nickolls, Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Plus - take a look at our handy guide of the best points to make here.
Pictured above - Steve Brine and Winchester City Council leader, Cllr George Beckett (and WCC Cllr Barry Lipscomb) recently called Tim Nickolls, to Winchester to make the case for our area and finalise the process once closures are proposed.