Blakelaw councillor claims Britain's first socialist PO

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Blakelaw councillor claims Britain's 'first socialist Post Office' is set to open in Newcastle http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... t-10240102" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


When Blakelaw Post Office opens in January, profits will be put back into the community as part of a charity trust

Newcastle could be home to Britain’s first ‘socialist Post Office’ a councillor has claimed.

Councillor David Stockdale and members of Blakelaw Ward Community Partnership have secured the right to open a new Post Office when the area’s existing postmaster retires in January.


The project will create four jobs and Coun Stockdale said changes to the way the Post Office works means a small portion of profit from every driving licence, stamp and passport will be returned and invested in the Blakelaw community.

Based in the community centre in Binswood Avenue, the Post Office is set to create four new jobs as a further boost to the community.

Coun Stockdale said: “It’s a really happy day for Blakelaw, after two years working with residents we have saved our local Post Office from closure by moving it into our community centre.

“Our Post Office will be the first in the country that is owned by the community so every single penny of profit will go into the local area.

“The way it works now, you don’t get paid a wage you get a cut of everything sold - you buy a stamp, we get commission, if we process a payment, we get commission.”

He added: “I supposed you could say that we have renationalised the Blakelaw Post Office, it’s the first truly socialist Post Office in Britain.”

A provisional opening date is being arranged for January and Coun Stockdale has vowed the new Post Office will be up and running just days after the existing Post Office closes.


Along with the Post Office the community centre is also set to boast a new cafe next year and the group already managed to set up a community library service.

Coun Stockdale added: “The Blakelaw Ward Community Partnership is a registered charity trust set up to help with ideas of which public services we can run at a local level despite the cuts.

“There will be a bit of work to fit out the building but hopefully the old one will close on a Friday and we’ll open on the Monday.”

Coun Stockdale paid tribute to fellow councillors, and number of volunteers, who helped secure the licence to operate the Post Office.

He added: “We had to put together and outline a business plan saying ‘this is what we would like to do’.

“It was about the same time as we were going through the asset transfer of the community centre and we thought, what if it could support the community centre.

“We’ve fought for two years to make sure we saved a local Post Office, and we have.”

[Lounge Lizard]

"When Blakelaw Post Office opens in January, profits will be put back into the community as part of a charity trust" but ONLY if Blakelaw Post Office makes a PROFIT.