The decision to close of thousands of post offices, which looks set to be announced on Wednesday, will have a decimating impact on local services in Aberconwy.According to reports yesterday, the Government looks set to propose the closure of around 3,000 post offices, with the vast majority being in rural areas such as Aberconwy. There are currently around 14,000 post offices currently open in the UK, although the Royal Mail has publicly stated that it can run a viable service with only 4,000 outlets.
If the Royal Mail’s proposals are accepted ahead, we could see up to three quarters of the twenty six post offices we have in Aberconwy close down, and hundreds more across Wales facing extinction.
Despite rhetoric from politicians, there is little understanding of the vital role that post offices play within our communities. For many people in Llandudno, as well as the Conwy valley, their local post office provides crucial services which many will not be able to access if these cuts go ahead. Indeed, with many high streets losing their local banks the post office is the only option left for many people, especially the elderly in our society”
Most of the problems that post offices have faced in the last few years have been because of government decisions to withdraw key services such as pensions, benefits, TV licences and passports. I therefore call upon all our Assembly members in North Wales to raise this matter urgently with the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay, and to set up a task force, in partnership with the National Federation of Subpostmasters, to examine how more local and national public services can be managed through the local post office network.
The whole point of having devolved government in Wales is that we can do things differently to England, and I would fully expect the Assembly to look carefully at how Wales can respond to this issue.
Despite rhetoric from politicians, there is little understanding of the vital role that post offices play within our communities. For many people in Llandudno, as well as the Conwy valley, their local post office provides crucial services which many will not be able to access if these cuts go ahead. Indeed, with many high streets losing their local banks the post office is the only option left for many people, especially the elderly in our society”
Most of the problems that post offices have faced in the last few years have been because of government decisions to withdraw key services such as pensions, benefits, TV licences and passports. I therefore call upon all our Assembly members in North Wales to raise this matter urgently with the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay, and to set up a task force, in partnership with the National Federation of Subpostmasters, to examine how more local and national public services can be managed through the local post office network.
The whole point of having devolved government in Wales is that we can do things differently to England, and I would fully expect the Assembly to look carefully at how Wales can respond to this issue.
1 comment:
Get your voice heard - the rural post office network - www.ruralaction.org.uk
Everyone has a view on the future of the rural post office network - but will everyone's views be heard? Perhaps you have a good idea on the future of the network; perhaps your own experience shows a vital aspect has been over-looked. Now there is a simple way to get your point across quickly and easily. The recent popularity in 'blogging' - contributing to a weblog or online message board - has inspired ruralnet|uk to set up a blog for this issue: a simple technique allowing thousands to add their personal comments to the debate. Over half of all UK homes have access to an online computer - as well as libraries, youth clubs, schools, day centres, UK online centres, and even some Post Offices! Anyone with an interest can visit the blog and leave their comment on the consultation questions, and read what others are saying.
ruralnet|uk Chief Executive, Simon Berry said "Government consultations are all very well, but they are time consuming and complicated. Fine for the professionals but not for the people affected. It will take just a few moments for anyone to have their say in our collective consultation and their views will go straight to the government."
Visit www.ruralaction.org.uk, click any of the ‘Comment’ links and have your say. You can comment on as little or as much as you like. It is as simple and quick as that. There is no printing or sending to do.
At the end of the consultation period, ruralnet|uk undertakes to summarise objectively all the comments received, and feed them into the Government’s consultation procedure. Says Simon: "We were the first to use the internet to run a collective consultation on the ‘first’ rural white paper way back in the spring of 1999 when we received 1154 contributions. It was said to be "one of the most useful submissions received”. So we know that a collective view from rural people, presented by us will carry a lot of weight.
So, don't be left out: go to www.ruralaction.org.uk state your views and have an impact on the future of post office services in rural areas.
Post a Comment