Our Post Office was listed for closure. It was accommodated in the village’s only shop. Residents signed a petition against its closure. Our petition did not work probably because there is a post office in each of the nearby villages. Another factor may have been that the relief manager and his wife may not have been entitled to compensation. The post office closed last autumn. By way of a sweetener, Over was promised a mobile post office service.
Towards the end of February, without the promised mobile service or any news about it, I found out what was happening. I contacted ‘Network Change’, who are responsible for post office reorganization, and our local Member of Parliament, Jim Paice.
Whilst Mr. Paice responded positively, and agreed to look into the matter, Network Change ignored me. Eventually, after a prod, they told me the mobile service was dependent on finding a local Sub-Postmaster willing to provide the service. This was proving difficult to arrange; however, they were negotiating and hoped to have news soon when they would contact me again. This was the situation that was reported in the ‘Over News’.
Now read on:
On the 18 March, our M.P. told me
"It is extremely unsatisfactory that the village has been left without any service for so long. I understand that the delay was exacerbated because the person who had originally agreed to be "the Core sub-Postmaster" who would run the Mobile Service for Over and other villages decided to withdraw in November. I am told that they have now found another "Core sub-Postmaster" and they are currently developing that to provide the Mobile Outreach Service in Over in the not too distant future.
I am very concerned at these continued delays but I thought you would wish to know the action I have taken. "
to which I responded:
"Dear Mr Paice
Thank you for your email updating the situation regarding the promised mobile Post Office service for Over. Given that the proposed Core sub-Postmaster withdrew his interest in November, and we are now approaching the end of March, the Post Office certainly seems to have failed to provide Over residents with a fast, reliable or First Class service.
However, thank you for your efforts on our behalf, and I will certainly keep you informed of developments, or lack thereof.
Regards"
Now, what should not surprise me, is that I have had no further contact from Network Change. They said they would contact me again! But that’s what they always say! As they have information for Mr Paice, why have they not passed the good news on to the villagers? I did tell them their comments would be published in the Over village magazine.
Are the 'official' and 'public' lines different? Are they merely telling the MP what they think the MP wants to hear? Did they think we would drive to another village to post our letters or draw our pensions, and that those without transport, and the elderly/infirm, would rely on others to help them out? Did they intend fulfilling their promise, or expect that as time went on we would forget all about it?
Does anyone know of any other area which has been promised a mobile post office service? Has this ever materialised? Or are the residents, like us, still waiting? If you know the answer - or think you know the answer - to any of the above, please let me know.
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No wonder youy are a Grumpy Old Git - this will make you even Grumpier!
ReplyDeleteOn 1st October 2008, ‘Postwatch’ merged with ‘Energywatch’ and the Welsh, Scottish and National Consumer Councils to form ‘Consumer Focus’, the new champion for consumers’ interests in England, Scotland, Wales and, for post, Northern Ireland.
So you go to their web site at http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/ and they direct you as follows:
“If you have an enquiry or if you need advice about a problem with your energy company or postal operator contact Consumer Direct.”
And that directs you to a web site that doesn’t work and all you get is “The server encountered an internal error () that prevented it from fulfilling this request.”
Did you get all that?
Thank you for your comment GM - actually I called myself a Grumpy Old 'Woman' but your description probably covers both of us admirably! Examples like the one you have quoted where we are just given the runaround drive me nuts, so I shall also send a link to this blog to Consumerfocus. Watch this space!
ReplyDeleteWe are all becoming Grumpy because of Mushroom Management, so Jane, keep heaping the Manure on the Muppets. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments GD. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteJane,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for taking the time and trouble to highlight the Over Post Office problem. As an elected Parish Councillor for Over, I support your action completely. As with a number of legislative bodies, they offer you the chance to put forward your views, but in many instances it makes little or no difference to the already programmed plan of action, but utilises what I class as 'Lip Service' to prove that all concerned parties have a chance to put forward views, objections or complaints (pity no one listens).
We have a number elderly people in the village who relied on the post office services, not only for pensions and mail, but for a very important part of village life 'Interaction with others in the community' The Post Master would often be the hub of communication (Some might call it gossip) but it was a mechanism for the elderly and anyone else to interact and communicate about village matters and will be sadly missed by all. With regard to the mobile service, I cannot immediately ascertain how this would be financially viable, given that they are to retain a post office in the adjoining villages. You have the cost of the Core Post Master, The van, insurance, fuel, maintenance, road tax, security, driver/operative salary and all of this to provide a once or twice a week service. Perhaps in hindsight, they have realised this and hence the non-arrival of the service! It would be an interesting problem to pose to our MP and request that he conduct a cost analysis on the oriinal fixed Vs the proposed mobile service. Call me a cynic if you wish!
Martin - thank you for your detailed and interesting response; I appreciate having the support of an elected Parish Councillor. As you say, there are a number of elderly people for whom the post office not only provided a meeting point, but afforded them some independence. I worked occasionally in the shop accommodating the post office and am well aware of at least two visually-impaired ladies, two men with walking aids and one using a mobile scooter who are particularly affected by this closure. In fact, I was speaking to one of the above ladies yesterday, and she had recently had to catch a bus to St Ives in order to post a parcel, this being easier for her to access than one of the adjoining villages.
ReplyDeleteNo-one would disagree regarding cost implications of the scheme. But, it was never going to be financially viable, so why did the Post Office make this promise? To keep us quiet. Which is why I am not surprised at the lack of communication from Network Change. Despite their assurance to the MP, if they have now done the maths and come to the same conclusion, let them finally be honest and tell us!
you go for it nana someone once told me that if you want something that bad and you destine for it in a matter of no time you will reach your goal
ReplyDeleteUnsolicited words of encouragement and wisdom from a 12 year old! Thank you Jordan. Let's hope your optimism and determination are never dimmed.
ReplyDeleteNice to know there are people like you brave
ReplyDeleteenough to stand and fight for those of us that cant or dont know how. Thankyou