Plans to switch Stockton PO to WH Smith = inferior service

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Plans to switch Stockton Post Office to WH Smith may mean 'inferior' service, says MP

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teess ... ce-6186111" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

Alex Cunningham has likened the move to 'privatisation by the back door' and accused Royal Mail of turning its back on the area

Plans to move Stockton post office to the town’s WH Smith have been branded as “privatisation by the back door”.

The Post Office says that moving the Stockton high street branch 500m up the road to Wellington Square will create a modern open-plan branch with extended opening hours.

A six-week public consultation is being undertaken to allow customers and interested parties to give their comments on the move, which is part of a major modernisation programme across the entire Post Office network.

The aim is to ensure Post Office branches “are sustainable, profitable and no longer reliant on Government funding”.

Stockton post office is one of 369 Crown branches directly owned by Post Office Ltd.

The vast majority of branches - more than 10,000 - are run by 'third parties' within their retail premises, says the organisation.

But Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, likened the move to privatisation by the back door.

He accused the Post Office of “turning their backs on the area”, despite huge investment by Stockton Council to modernise the high street to rejuvenate the local economy and attract new businesses.

Alex said: “I am hugely concerned that this process will result in an inferior post office for residents across the Stockton borough.”

The Post Office says that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of the proposed move.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Plan to relocate post office to WHSmiths comes under fire

http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/south ... -33946422/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

CAMPAIGNERS have condemned the suggested move of Southport’s Crown Post Office to WH Smith.
The idea, which would see the current site closed in order for it to be relocated to the store on Chapel Street, was said to be “ill-thought”.

Southport MP John Pugh said: “This Post Office is always busy, with queues sometimes out into the street.

“The main complaint has been particularly older resid- ents having to wait for too long.

“It cannot be said to be losing money.

“Sub-postmasters sometimes complain that the Crown Post Offices get too much subsidy, but I would be surprised if this one needs subsidy.”

Dr Pugh also believes that, if it is transferred to a place like WH Smith’s, then that would benefit the store, but it would not represent progress for cust- omers.

He added: “There are big questions about matters like disabled access and about proper priority being given to post office customers.

“At the moment, users can be dropped off right plumb in the centre of town, which is where you might expect the major post office to be.

“Post Office counters are offering a half-baked solution to a half-understood problem.”

Southport residents also believe that it is not a good idea to move the post office.

Vivian Elliott, from Southport, said: “I don’t think it would be good because the area where WH Smith’s is is pedest- rianised.
“How will the lorries and the vans park up?

“It’s in a good spot now because it’s more accessible.


“The worst thing they ever did was that they shut all of the smaller post offices. That has caused massive queues in the main post office in town now because everyone goes there.”

The Post Office started a six week consultation yesterday (Monday). Submissions can be made through an online questionnaire at postoffice views.co.uk, by FREEPOST Your Comments to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@ postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.