Latest News | Council Letter

The Chief Executive of the Council, Robin Hooper, has written to the post office, setting out the Council's opposition to the move, the text of the letter is below.


Dear .............

CLOSURE OF POST OFFICE

My Council at its meeting held on 24th July 2006 gave consideration to the proposed closure of the Main Crown Post Office in Shrewsbury and its amalgamation with WH Smith in the town centre. It is understood that this is part of a national policy which the Post Office is presently rolling out around the country. The Council firmly believes that this is not a policy which is in the interests of the public and ultimately would also cause harm to the integrity of the Post Offices with a diminution in their profile.

Following a debate in the Council meeting on 24th July 2006, the Council unanimously adopted the cross party supported motion:

“This Council strongly objects to the proposed transfer of the Main Post Office currently located in St Mary’s Street to another retail outlet within the town.

The proposed new location is considered not to be in the interests of the majority of residents and is being conducted purely for the purpose of financial expediency of Post Office Counters Ltd.

Furthermore this Council deplores the proposed loss of in excess of 200 years experience provided by existing staff some of whom will be relocated therefore enabling other areas out of Shrewsbury to benefit.

This Council therefore calls upon Post Office Counters Ltd to seriously reconsider its’ proposals on relocating to another site and enable the residents of this Borough to continue to have the benefit of the service provided by existing staff.

The retention of “Crown Office” status is an important symbol for Shrewsbury as the County Town of Shropshire and such status should be maintained.

The Chief Executive is therefore requested to write to Post Office Counters Ltd outlining the concerns of this Council. Furthermore he is instructed to enter into discussions with Post Office Counters Ltd to determine what support of assistance this Council could give to Post Office Counters Ltd to enable them to remain on the present site, or alternatively another independent site and report back to Group Leaders or their nominated deputies.”

Other issues which were raised during the debate was the concern in Shrewsbury that the proposed premises would be on a floor lower than street level which would raise issues of disability access as well as security collections and deliveries. Serious concern was also expressed that whilst the meeting had taken place with senior representatives from Royal Mail that the senior representatives had not listened to the arguments and that decisions may be being taken regardless of the wishes to the local public. Since the announcement of this proposal in Shrewsbury I have been told that a petition of over 10,000 signatures has already been prepared. To progress against the significant number of customers expressing their dissatisfaction in a customer focussed organisation may not be in the interests of the Post Office. There was also a concern that this was an issue of national interest in the potential for Post Offices to remove themselves from High Street frontages which would not only impact upon resident communities but also the travelling public in terms of exchanging money which would particularly reveal itself in tourist destinations such as Shrewsbury.

For Shrewsbury there is an opportunity whereby the Borough Council could assist the Post Office in finding alternative premises in the event that its lease for the existing premises is due to expire. It is noticed that on the expiry of that lease the Post Office will receive a compensation payment which is potentially going to be a large sum. Regardless of how that compensation payment is used by Royal Mail, alternative accommodation could be provided, for example by the Borough Council to meet the Post Office's requirements and the needs of its customers and public on a site that the Borough Council own within the town. An appropriate lease agreement could be put in place to meet both the interests of Royal Mail and the Borough Council in that respect. In that regard I would encourage you to open dialogue with me as Chief Executive on this issue rather than continuing down a path which has thousands of members of the public in Shrewsbury totalling opposed to, which in their view brings discredit to Royal Mail and the public as users of the services.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Chief Executive.