Petition hits 4,500 in fight against franchising Bury St Edmunds Post Office

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/loc ... -1-7303021" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Support is growing to prevent Bury St Edmunds town centre Post Office being moved into a shop, amid fears the switch will result in an ‘inferior’ service.

A combined 4,500 people have now signed an online and paper petition urging Post Office Ltd to reconsider proposals to franchise its Crown Post Office on Cornhill. The company says it is looking into the move as its Crown branches are not ‘sustainable into the future’.

David Cull, from the Communication Workers Union, has been involved in the petition, which has been sent to Prime Minister David Cameron, Post Office Ltd, Bury MP Jo Churchill and St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

“Owners of local businesses fear that any change will lead to an inferior service,” he said.

“A downgraded franchise model will have a huge impact as the Crown Post Office offers a dedicated specialist service, by highly skilled, trained Crown Post Office staff.

“Moving the Post Office into a shop with smaller space and fewer counters will mean the specialist trained and committed service will be lost to customers.”

The Post Office has advertised for franchise partners and been contacted by a number of interested parties.

“Interest has been registered and we are examining that interest in detail,” said a Post Office spokeswoman.

“When there is a full plan it will be announced and a six-week public consultation will then take place.”

Those fighting the petition are planning to hold a public meeting to inform supporters and customers about the campaign, but a date is yet to be finalised.

To sign the petition visit http://www.change.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lounge Lizard]

Aberystwyth last week, Bury St Edmunds this week.
In just about every town across the land support was growing to prevent the Crown Office being moved into a shop, amid fears the switch will result in an ‘inferior’ service, and, as far as I know, NEVER have the towns folk been successful in preventing the move.