We Have A Post Office. Now We Must All Support It

THE WAIT IS OVER!

The mobile post office has opened for business. It arrived bright and early this morning and was all set up and ready for customers by 9.30.

By 11 o'clock this had been announced on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Andie Harper Show, and I had received a phone call from an elderly lady to say how thrilled she was at having been able to withdraw money, post a parcel and pay a bill in the smart new mobile, instead of having to travel to the next village. She was going off to spread the word round the village, and at her exercise class!

Checking back later with Nunce and Cath, (see photo), the two members of staff, they were delighted with the friendly reception and positive reaction they had received from villagers, and with the cups of coffee and biscuits provided by a lady living nearby! An excellent beginning to this most welcome and much needed service, which we must all now support 100% to ensure its continuation.


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Over Needs A Pedestrian Crossing

High Street is on a school route. Canvassing opinion, I was told by everyone that they felt unsafe crossing this road. I provided a traffic/pedestrian count for the Council Safety Department, and requested a feasibility study for a pedestrian crossing.

On 17 June I emailed the involved parties at the Council:

'I have heard nothing from you since the copy email from Kirsty Gilliland to Andy Swallowe on 18 May requesting 'can you follow this up with Ms Lovett please'. I sent you details of an indicative survey I carried out on 18 May. I said I would carry out a 12-hour survey if you would advise the day and times you want this done. I sent you a link to my updated blog, http://mysteamvalve.blogspot.com/. Please advise what action you have taken/propose taking.'

I received the following response from Kirsty Gilliland, Team Leader, Safer Routes to School:

'Thank you for your e-mail below. I apologise that you have not received anything further in relation to this matter. I know that Andy went out and did a traffic survey at the junction you mentioned, shortly after my request to him to ask him to look into it. My understanding was that he sent you the details, so I am sorry that you have not received this. Unfortunately he is now on annual leave until next Thursday 25th June so I am unable to ask him about it. His business support officer Jane Major is at a conference today but I have copied her in to this e-mail to ask her if she is able to find a copy of the correspondence. If we can, we will e-mail it over to you as soon as possible. I trust this is acceptable to you in the short term, and will be in contact again within the next couple of days.'

I attended the Parish Council meeting last night. The provision of a pedestrian crossing was on the agenda. The Chair of the Parish Council reported that she had spoken to Cllr. Shona Johnstone, County Councillor, who is 'going to look into it'. I believe that with so many people 'looking into it'; conflicting information; lack of communication; confusion over communication, this is already resembling the cooks and the broth or celebrations in a brewery!

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An Accident Waiting To Happen - or - Waiting For An Accident To Happen?

Many people feel unsafe crossing High Street, which is on a school route. I contacted the Council Safety Department, provided a traffic/pedestrian count, and requested a feasibility study for a pedestrian crossing.

Why, despite the following internal emails, have I heard nothing since 18 May? Is it that each one now thinks someone else is dealing with the query? Or has this matter just been filed away under 'pending', to be resurrected in the event of Over High Street becoming a 'recognized personal injury accident site'!

Kirsty Gilliland, Team Leader, Safer Routes to School and Community Projects, to Andy Swallowe, School Crossing Patrol Manager:
Hello Andy and Jane: I have just had a word with Jane to see if it is possible for you to do a count for this lady please? If you can do it, can you let me know and I will contact Ms Lovatt to explain what we are doing, and why.

Andy Swallowe to Kirsty Gilliland:
Having read the email and looked at the blog site they want a pedestriancrossing which can be used by adults/children alike throughout the day. This kind of request is normally forwarded to the relevant engineers who conduct a twelve hour traffic/pedestrian count. If the results do not meet the criteria but it is identified that children cross between the peak hours of 08.30 -09.00and 15.00 - 16.00 the engineers will as a rule contact me. I think this is the best way forward.

Kirsty Gilliland to Steve Thulborn, Traffic Technician:
We have received an e-mail into Cambridgeshire direct as below, which has been passed to us. The school are not on SRTS so we can't assist at the moment, but I have written to Ms Lovett and suggested she asks them to join. In the meantime, I contacted Andy Swallowe School Crossing Patrol Manager, and he says in his e-mail below that usual procedure is that South Engineers do a 12 hour traffic count. Can I leave that with you guys to arrange for Ms Lovett please?

Steve Thulborn to me:
I have been forwarded your request for a feasibility survey for apedestrian crossing on High Street, Over. We would normally undertakesuch survey if the site had a recognized personal injury accident site to ensure the provision of a crossing met with County Council policy. As this is not the case we do not have the resource to carry out surveys on your behalf. We could arrange for a survey on your behalf but would expect you to meet the costs of this.

Kirsty Gilliland to Andy Swallowe on 18 May, copied to me:
Hi Andy
As discussed, can you follow this up with Ms Lovett please, to see if there is anything we can do?
Many thanks
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I Spy With My Little Eye - A Mobile Post Office!

The new mobile post office arrived in the village this morning. Today was just a 'dry run', to put the van through its paces and check out its location in the village.
It was lovely to see it pull into the lay-by at The Green, and to finally meet the person I had spoken with so often on the phone, Lionel Wright, Parish Administrator at St James, Hemingford Grey. He was accompanied by Nunce, the postmistress who will be operating the service, with other colleagues, five mornings a week.

Although small in size, the 'mobile' is certainly big on facilities and what it is able to provide. There is a wheelchair ramp for those in need. Full post office services will be available, including currency, cash withdrawal and fishing licences. In addition it is hoped that car tax will be available from there soon.

The mobile post office opens for business at 9.30 on Monday 22 June, in the lay-by at The Green. It will be there Monday to Friday, 9.30 until 12.30.

As I said in my article in the 'Over News', the initial contract is for a year, but will continue as long as it remains financially viable. As we have experienced village life without a post office for almost a year, I know everyone will welcome and support this service and the staff operating it. Well done and thank you, St James Church, Hemingford Grey.

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