MP praises Post Office closure report

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, today welcomed a report that condemned the recent closure of Post Offices across the country and branded the public consultation process as “a sham”.

The report, commissioned for the watchdog “Consumer Focus”, found that Post Office failed to effectively engage consumers, failed to communicate the right information to those opposing the closures, and missed opportunities to obtain valuable local knowledge of how cutbacks would affect communities.

The MP, who mounted a determined campaign to save local Post Offices, lobbying the Chief Executive of the Post Office and securing a debate in parliament on the subject of local closures, had previously criticised the consultation effort as “a cynical public relations exercise”.

He is closely monitoring the performance of the so-called “outreach” services and recently met senior Post Office executives to urge a review of the arrangements that replaced many of the closed branches. The Post Office has promised to perform such a review in the light of continued technical problems bedevilling Mobile Post Office service.

Mr Cox said, “I welcome the fact that Consumer Focus, the watchdog overseeing postal services, have confirmed what we all knew in Torridge and West Devon about the closure exercise and strongly criticised the Post Office for its shambolic and disastrous handling of this most recent round of branch closures.”

He continued: “However, for all that Post Office’s behaviour was feeble and did not take local needs into account, they were only part of the problem. The failure to set clear and effective guidelines against closure, where, for example, the post office supported the last shop in the village or where a rural community was isolated; is to be laid firmly at the door of Ministers, who time after time have shown they care little for our part of Devon.”

[fmrPOSTIE]

The problem with the Post Office (POL) and Royal Mail to be honest, is the fact that they hide behind the organisation being a "commercial company" even though its owned by all of us. i.e. publicly-owned.

There is NO accountability anymore with RMG because its is not a Corporation and the govt cannot really intervene...how many times have you heard McPhadden says "it is a matter for the company" on everything from suspensions, sackings, pensions and other issues.

Really is a dogs-breakfast setup with Royal Fail.

Publicly-owned but no accountability!