Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showersNews
| 
Submit Comments
advertisement
The last post
Emilene Coventry11/ 6/2008
COMMUNITIES have reacted with anger to the news that six Tameside post offices face the axe under the government’s latest round of closures.
Two in Droylsden and one each in Ashton, Audenshaw, Hyde and Stalybridge are all earmarked for closure.
Customers and staff spoke of their anger and sadness.
Speaking outside the bustling Edge Lane PO on Manchester Road, Droylsden, Gill Carey, 43, said she was "gutted".
"It’s not just the fact that we’ll lose the services at the two post offices, it’s two families’ livelihoods as well.
"Over the years I’ve got to know them well and you build up a trust with them," she said.
Michael Kelly has been a counter clerk at the Market Street PO on Moorside Lane, Droylsden for three years. He said: "My father was a postmaster and it’s always been our livelihood. I’ve never known anything else.
"I’ve got to know all the customers. Some of them are very old or disabled and they won’t be able to find their way to another post office."
Ashton MP David Heyes has says he will fight the closures.
"I’ll be very surprised if we don’t have a campaign running fairly quickly to prevent them being closed," he said.
"We can’t be too optimistic because the government are determined to go through with this but I wish they weren’t, it’s wrong-headed. Post offices are an essential part of the local community, especially in rural areas. But in my view it’s equally true in urban areas."
Droylsden Councillor Kieran Quinn said: "Clearly we’re disappointed with the Post Office’s view that they can close two post offices in our area, that to my mind are busily serving the community of Droylsden.
"We’ll definitely start campaigning from this weekend.
"It’s no wonder the Post Office continues to lose money hand over fist when the people running it try their hardest to run the services down."
He added: "The difficulty is that the Post Office doesn’t listen to anything we have to say. Look at the recent campaign to stop Ashton post office moving – we could not have had a better campaign but the Post Office stuck two fingers up at us."
Other branches set to close their doors by September are: West End PO, Katherine Street, Ashton; Denton Road PO, Audenshaw; Cheetham Fold PO, Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde; Mottram Road PO, Mottram Road, Stalybridge.
Jay Patel, postmaster at Denton Road post office, Audenshaw said: "Kicking up a fuss won’t make any difference. Once they decide to shut a post office down, they do it. It’s been coming for a couple of years so it’s no great surprise."
The government intends to shut down 2,500 post offices across the UK. It says the move is needed because the network is losing £3m a week.
It plans to invest up to £1.7bn in the remaining branches.
A public consultation ends on 21 July. To let post office bosses know your views, either write to Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp required) or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk. Further details from 08457 223344 or textphone 08457 223355.
Most recent 2 of 2 user comments
David Heyes is oblivious to the fact that it is his LABOUR government that is forcing these post offices to close.
And Kieran Quinn is oblivious to fact that it is his LABOUR government that has ordered Post Office Counters Ltd to close these post offices, along with another 2,500 nationwide.
They may be oblivious to these FACTS but the public aren't.
We should be calling the last post on Labour not our valuable Post Offices.
12/06/2008 at 01:26
Got an opinion you want to share?| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
3.50% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
6.00% |
|
ABBEY Instant Access Saver (Special Issue 2) |
6.00% |
|
ING DIRECT Savings Account |
6.00% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
6.30% |
|
ABBEY eSaver Direct |
6.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |
12/06/2008 at 20:34