Fury at closure of post offices

9:42am Tuesday 15th July 2008

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ANGRY community leaders today described the proposed closure of post offices in the Weymouth and Dorchester area as appalling and short-sighted'.

Post Office bosses want to close offices in Buxton Road at Wyke Regis and Dorchester Road at Broadwey in Weymouth.

Offices could also close at Fordington Green and Monmouth Road in Dorchester as well as at West Bay, Bridport, Worth Matravers and Owermoigne, which was already temporarily closed.

Broadwey's postmaster and postmistress, Peter and Janet Blakey, said they were devastated by the news.

Mrs Blakey said: "We have put everything into building this up to a profitable and professional business to serve the local community.

"If we were to close we feel the majority of our customers would be unwilling to go to the suggested alternative offices.

"We think they would go into town to the main post office, which we understand is already extremely busy."

She added that she and her husband will be mounting a campaign, backed by South Dorset MP Jim Knight, to save the office from closure.

Mr Knight said: "Peter and Janet have assured me that whatever happens they want to carry on running a post office service in the shop and I have today instigated a campaign to keep post office services at Broadwey.

"I'm disappointed that the closures include the Buxton Road office and I'm happy to assist constituents who want to oppose this proposal."

Mr Knight added that he was not opposed to all of the proposed closures in the county, claiming some were necessary to sustain a viable network' of post offices.

He also said he was pleased none of the offices on Portland have been earmarked for closure.

A website has been set up for people wishing to campaign against the closure of Broadwey Post Office at www.jimknight.com/broadweypostofficesurvey.

Buxton Road Post Office manager, Roger Hayre, said his existing customers would not be able to use suggested alternative post offices.

He said: "The majority of my client base is elderly and they've got a number of disability issues, the biggest being mobility.

"This office is very much a community base and is a vital element for my customers, who will not be able to migrate to other stores.

"It's hard enough for them to get here and there are real access issues with suggested alternatives such as the town centre office."

Mr Hayre said he would be running a customer survey campaign to prove his case during a forthcoming six-week consultation period by the Post Office on the proposed closures.

Upwey and Broadwey borough councillor Mike Goodman said he was absolutely appalled' by the news that his local office will close.

He added: "It's such a short-sighted decision and I find it incredible.

"This is just a kick in the teeth from central government for no good reason.

"It will be a massive loss locally and will impact on everyone, from the young to the elderly."

Mr Goodman said he would be working with organisations like the Upwey Society to fight the plans.

Dorchester town councillor and Monmouth Road resident, Tess James, said elderly people in the area would be the worst affected.

She said: "I suppose we suspected this but I think it's very sad for the local area.

"The Monmouth Road office has been a very good local service and we will be very sorry to lose it.

"I always see quite a few people using the post office here.

"There is always a queue when I go in and I think it's important for the older people to have somewhere local they can use.

"People will be taking more cars into town now just to get to the post office."

No one from Monmouth Road Post Office was available for comment.

West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin will hold a series of meetings about the closures, starting at the Salt House, West Bay on Friday (18)at 10.15am.

The next one will begin at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester on the same day at 11.30am.

Mr Letwin said: "Post offices in West Dorset, thank goodness, have come off lightly compared to most other areas with only five post offices under threat and only three of those in rural areas.

"However, that is little comfort to people in Dorchester, West Bay - which is obviously one many local people locally are concerned about - and elsewhere in the county.

"I am determined to work with local government to try to find ways to keep these offices open."

Teresa Seall, West Dorset District Council member for Owermoigne, said: "The village would like to keep its post office open.

"It was a very useful part of the village and we will miss it, but we have to make other means."

She added: "I think there is work afoot locally to get the shop part open again."

South Dorset Conservative parliamentary candidate Richard Drax called the post office closures an act of vandalism'.

He said: "We have a large elderly population in South Dorset and the post office is a lifeline for many of them, especially in remote rural villages.

"What sort of country do we want? A post office was and is the centre of village life. They are vital for the elderly and act as a community meeting point.

"Now people will be forced to travel further afield to find a post office, while those with no cars will be placed in the most impossible situation.

"And spare a thought, too, for the owners of these post offices. They've all been told they'll only get their compensation if they promise not to provide any competing postal service for at least a year."

Dorset Community Action field worker, Simon Thompson, said: "Although the rate of closures is below the national average, the individual communities affected will be reeling after this news."

He added that his organisation is willing to give help and support to parish councils and community groups if needed.

Offices facing closure Beaminster: Kittwhistle PO, Kittwhistle Blandford: Salisbury Road PO Blandford: Blandford Camp PO, Welfare Centre, Blandford Camp Bournemouth: Lower Charminster Road PO, Alldays Store Bournemouth: Northbourne PO, 7 Ashbridge Parade Bridport: West Bay PO, 11 West Bay Charlton Marshall: Charlton Marshall PO, Parish Rooms, The Close Christchurch: Stour Road PO, 108-110 Stour Road Dorchester: Fordington PO, 8 Fordington Green Dorchester: Monmouth Road PO, 33 Monmouth Road Ferndown: Wimborne Road PO, 550 Wimborne Road East Longham: Longham PO, 130 Ringwood Road Milton On Stour: Milton On Stour PO, Forge Garage Owermoigne: Owermoigne PO (temporarily closed), 11A Kit Lane Poole: Park Gates PO, 121 Parkstone Road Poole: Penn Hill Avenue PO, 1 Bank Chambers Poole: Sandbanks PO, 8 Banks Road Sturminster Newton: Todber PO, Hatcher Cottage, Moorside Wareham: Sandford PO, St Helens Road Weymouth: Buxton Road PO, 23 Buxton Road Weymouth: Broadwey PO, 608 Dorchester Road Wimborne: Holt PO, Holt Lane Wimborne: Stapehill PO, 197 Wimborne Road West Worth Matravers: Worth Matravers PO