Mum vows to fight for our post offices

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SUB-POSTMISTRESS Kym Ledgar has vowed to hold the Government to account in her attempt to save the country's post offices.

The 54-year-old, from Oakhill, was last week elected president of the National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP).

The role means she will support the federation's 7,500 members.

And she says she will not be afraid to speak up to central Government and minister for postal affairs Ed Davey.


Kym, who runs Fenton Post Office in Christchurch Street, says now was the most important time to be elected as the federation was fighting to protect the future viability of post offices across the country.

She said: "This is a very big responsibility. In the Post Office's 300 year history we've never had so much change taking place.

"If this doesn't go right post offices will die."

The Government has promised to deliver an extra £300 million of work to post offices in order to keep them going.

This could include new work such as accepting the payment of fines, dealing with blue badges and using eye recognition machines to confirm people's identity.

Kym's role will see her deliver the views and demands of the UK's sub-postmasters to key figures within the government and Post Office Ltd on issues that will shape the future of the post office network.

She also hopes to protect sub-postmasters' incomes by calling for an inter-business agreement to be signed between Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail before the companies are separated. This would guarantee that Royal Mail business would continue to be carried out by post offices.

She will also be helping to continue the successful introduction of the new Post Office Local model, which will see 2,000 post offices transfer to local retail outlets offering longer opening hours.

The mother-of-four said: "We're looking at all sorts of new work, but I'm going to make sure the Government is true to its word.

"The Government is going to sell Royal Mail and we'll be kept by the Government.

"They've committed to no more office closures and the only way that can happen is if we're given work."

The number of UK post offices has dropped from 22,000 in the 1960s to 11,500 today.

Kym first worked as a postal officer in Hanley as a 16-year-old in 1973.

She became sub-postmaster at East Fenton post office in 1985 and moved to her current post office in 1987.

She said: "The network has suffered over the last 10 years. I will not be silent.

"I'm the voice for 7,500 people and we're absolutely desperate to get new work."

Trent Vale sub-postmaster Simon Fahey nominated Kym for the post.

The 45-year-old, of Hanford, who is also a member of the federation, said: "I nominated Kym because she is very diligent, industrious and tenacious. She will not let anyone get one over her.

"She will fight for us right to the end and with the Government proposals there's going to be a lot of steering groups going ahead and she will have to be a part of that."

[subbie]

Mum's the word then.

Subbie