Postman Pat promoted to sorting office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ffice.html

Postman Pat's latest "promotion" to a high-tech sorting office has been met with criticism from postal workers angry that the village post office is being killed off.


By Chris Irvine
Last Updated: 7:04AM BST 07 Oct 2008

In the latest BBC television series Postman Pat Special Delivery Service, Pat begins a daily commute from Greendale to the ultra-modern office in Pencaster.

The character even has a personal digital aide, a helicopter and a stunt bike.

Postman Pat was created in 1981 by John Cunliffe when he lived in Kendal.

The setting was based on the houses, lanes and fell walks around Longsleddle valley and the village of Grasmere.

The post office on which the show is based was a depiction of Greendale post office in Kendal which closed years ago.

Cunliffe was unavailable for comment as Postman Pat is now owned by Entertainment Rights.

Hilary Knaggs, who had to close her post office at Longpool, near Kendal, earlier this year, said: "It is a bit of a slap in the face when rural post offices are going through so much turmoil."

A spokeswoman for the Communication Workers' Union said she was surprised Pat's move was being depicted as a promotion, as he would still be on a £17,000 annual salary.

She sad: "Postal workers are living the nightmare of modernisation: job losses, closures and pensions at risk."

Peter Luff, chairman of the Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee, which has campaigned to save post offices, said: "The Government and the BBC appear to be working together to kill off the network."

A BBC statement said: "Postman Pat is not real, so to suggest he's making a statement about real life doesn't make sense."

[F0zziebear]

Postman Pat is an "apostal" character that could be shown in any country. It is not owned by Royal Mail and there is no Royal Mail branding. Granted that the red colour is an indication and the original Postman Pat had the RM logo, so one can understand the confusion.

[POSTMAN]

A BBC statement said: "Postman Pat is not real, so to suggest he's making a statement about real life doesn't make sense."