Tragedy reignites post office debate

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http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/black ... 3611128.jp

By Shelagh Parkinson
BLACKPOOL Council is prepared to offer space in one of its buildings for a town centre post office following demands the service should move.
Town hall chiefs say the post office could be relocated into Central Library on Queen Street from its current home in the basement of WH Smith on Bank Hey Street.

The council and the town's MPs all opposed the decision to close the Abingdon Street branch, with services transferring to WH Smith in September this year.

They feared the change would make access more difficult for elderly and disabled people.

The Gazette revealed earlier this week how a 90-year-old woman died following a fall while trying to make her way down to the new post office.

Death

Elsie Fletcher died in hospital two weeks after her fall after developing pneumonia.

Coun Tony Williams, cabinet member for libraries on Blackpool Council, said he had decided to make inquiries after hearing about the tragic death of Mrs Fletcher who was one of his constituents.

He said: "This was an unfortunate accident which shouldn't have happened.

"We all agreed the WH Smith location was wrong and it was decided without dialogue with the council or the people of Blackpool.

"I believe a better site would hav
e been, and still could be, the Central Library.

"We have full disabled access and I have spoken to our head of libraries who says space could be found.

"There is a tradition in rural areas, and in America, of mixing post offices with libraries so it does make sense."

He added that in future the post office could move to the new Gateway Library planned as part of the creation of a new civic centre around North Station.

But the post office said it had no plans to relocate the service again.

A spokesman said: "Post Office Ltd is very satisfied both with the new premises in which our main post office in Blackpool town centre is located and with the service being provided to customers by our retail partners, WH Smith.

"The premises are, of course, fully compliant with disability legislation.

"We are always happy to receive correspondence about the services we provide."

The full article contains 368 words and appears in Blackpool Gazette newspaper.
Last Updated: 21 December 2007 7:56 AM