The formation of CAPOC

Communities Against Post Office Closures.

CAPOC was formed in February 2008 by groups opposing Post Office closures in the communities of Rippingale, Langworth and Castle Bytham in Lincolnshire, Passfield in Hampshire, Somerby in Leicestershire and Burton Fleming in East Yorkshire.

This was because it had become obvious to all that the National media were not reporting on the story and it became increasingly clear, with the January publication of the first wave of closure results for Kent, East Midlands and Yorkshire, that the chances of any single action group fighting and winning were very slim.

The rationale for the formation of CAPOC was that a coalition of such opposition groups would :

•  Provide help and advice, borne out of experience, for communities newly threatened with closure
•  Have more political 'clout' with a greater chance of achieving a positive outcome.
•  Attract more extensive national media coverage than has been the case so far.
•  Provide, via the CAPOC website, a focal point and discussion forum for the group.

The individual groups have a wide variety of campaigning styles and ideas; these will help new groups to quickly zero in on the most effective campaigning strategies that suit their particular needs.

All member groups share the same sense of outrage at the loss of a valuable community service and the potential that this closure has to destroy their communities.