Well Broken Heart, you were right.

The Tory Lib coalition has announced privatisation of the Post Office.  How far will this go, and at what loss to the country.

Hi Julia

With reference to the EU legislation, I did spot somewhere that it was one of our own MPs that started, or at least supported the legislation which is blamed for the demise of the Royal Mail / Post Office  It would appear that the EU is being used for things that our own political parties are too scared to promote under their own banner.  Perhaps you know more.

Re supporters - our sole purpose in keeping going is to provide a platform, and indeed archive, so that those that are interested can see what went on, discuss it in the Forum or Blog if they see fit, and make their own minds up when it comes to voting.  Many thanks at being the first to contribute, perhaps you can point more in our direction.  On a personal note - and I stress personal - I am very tempted to vote for your party, but much can happen in the next few weeks.

John W

Dear John,
 I appreciate your courteous reply. I would have joined your website before if I had known about it. But one has only limited time and energy in this crowded world.
     I know exactly what you mean about alienating supporters by narrowing it down to particular political labels but I just don't see any way of getting round the fact that this comes from the EU and will only be solved by leaving the EU.
     Maybe your Lib/Lab/Con MP will say yes, yes and express sympathy (as ours did) but what is the point? They don't mean it and they haven't got the power to challenge these laws. Anyone who suggests leaving the EU is immediately labelled as "extremist" and demonized in all sorts of ways.
      I would even question whether it is worth having a large number of signed-up supporters who are not prepared to do anything realistic to achieve their aims. 
            I hope we can still work together,
                                          Julia.

Hi Julia

If you had joined our forum a couple of years ago we may have stood a better chance of getting the message out.  UKIP did support us, which is more than can be said for the other parties, but not enough.

Like most other pressure groups if we had been politically biased we would have alienated strong supporters from all other parties - somewhat counterproductive  I think.  You are, however, correct in saying the best way to get change is from within a party - but which one?  Perhaps more than one?

As ever we remain neutral, but you are welcome to discuss your point of view.

Best of luck with the forthcoming election

John W

I live in Oxford, where a large number of small suburban Post Offices have closed. People were very unhappy about it and there was a lot of discussion in the local press, but the consultation was a sham.
Our MP Andrew Smith told local people he was on their side and would do what he could - then he voted in Parliament in favour of the closures, which were of course carried out in tens of thousands right across the country.
Why?
Why did this happen?
Many people join groups like this in a belief that they can campaign in a non-political and non-partisan way. I think they are mistaken. You can only fight something if you understand the politics and you cannot be non-partisan or cross-party.
Joining CAPOC is only addressing the symptoms, not the disease.
The government's own Hooper Report admits that the REASON 50,000 local post offices had to be shut was that the EU which runs our budget tells us we are not allowed to spend more than a certain amount on subsidizing them. Why do they need to be subsidized? Because the EU's competition laws impose the necessity of privatising the Royal Mail, whose profits always used to finance the provision of post offices when the two services went in tandem.
Harriet Harman hypocritically tried to deny this EU connection even when asked a straight question in the House of Commons, She said no, it was the Hooper Report but...when you read the Hooper Report, it admits that the EU is behind the whole thing. They cap our spending on necessities here, and squander tens of millions on subsidizing such things as tobacco production in other EU countries.
Many British people prefer to live with their heads buried in the sand. They get angry  >:(when anyone points out that things like PO closure, NHS disasters, ID cards etc are all related to the way that the EU is now dictating our lives. Politicians, whether they are Labour, Libdem or Conservative, blatantly deny it and resort to outright lies.
But it is true.

The No2ID group is another case in point. They think they can oppose EU legislation by holding barbeques and being "non-political". They are just naive. ID cards are part of an EU-wide programme and will be imposed in a uniform way with cards that can be read by machines anywhere in the 27 members states. They will be compulsory and they will NOT be free. Every time you move - or lose the card - you will have to pay for another one.
     The only way to avoid obeying EU orders is to leave the EU. We never voted for EU membership in Britain anyway. We only ever voted for a so-called Common Market and were made many false promises at that time.
If anyone in CAPOC seriously wants to oppose Post Office closures (and there are many more in the pipeline) and Royal Mail privatization, the only way to achieve it is to support a political party which believes in breaking free from the EU.
     I am standing as a candidate in the coming General Election, and it's because I believe in telling the truth about things like this.
   See my webpage
 http://oxfordshire.ukip.org/articles/745-julia-gasper-ukip-ppc-oxford-east

   

It was well over twelve months ago that many of us warned that the post office closures were just the thin edge of the wedge towards privatisation and the loss of the Post Office Service in the UK!

It's sour grapes but;  told you so!

It is now openly discussed that people in remote locations will have to pick up their mail from a local distribution point, and the universal delivery to all of the UK will be a thing of the past, to bad if you live in the Highlands and Islands.

In my opinion the 'government' (the small g was deliberate!) possibly want the postal strike so that they can put the blame for privatisation onto the postal workers?  Let's face it, postal workers striking just turns the unthinking masses against them.

I just cannot see the Royal Mail and Post Office surviving now, except in name.  You all better get your walking boots out so that you can collect your post!!

Hi Paul

Welcome to the vaults of apathy - no one comes down here much since they lost their Post Offices.

It's difficult to give such advice in today's economic climate, and I/we are not really the people to give it.

So much depends on the local situation.  Is the village large enough to support a shop, what goods are you going to make a profit with etc, and we would not trust POLtd to not shut the PO counter at any time.

In the days when we had Bank Managers he/she would have been your best bet, but today if you tick the right boxes you get the loan.  No real advice at all.

The only advice I can give is to get advice locally from an honest person who knows the area.

Sorry I/we cannot help more.

Best of luck anyway, with whatever you choose to do.

I have the opportunity to take over a local post office in Great Broughton North Yorkshire. Any advice would be greatfull, e.g can a small post office and shop make a profit (provide a descent income to pay mortgage etc). I appreciate that it is providing a service to the community but will that community put their money across that counter.

Cheers, Paul.

Hi, I am a student studying Television and Radio at Salford University in Greater Manchester.

I am currently working on a project about the closure of the post offices and how this has affected post masters lives. As my dad was a sub post master and has obviously been greatly affected by the closure, this is something i feel strongly about and decided would be a good topic to base my short film on.

As the film will be in the style of a documentary, I need an interview with somebody who has been affected by the closure. You may be wondering why I don’t just get an interview off my dad but I found this too personal, and decided that for the sake of my film I would be better to try and find somebody else to speak about their experience with.

The film has to be around 6 - 10 minutes long and therefore I will only need a short interview with the post master. I would not expect you to travel anywhere, I would come to you, so therefore I would be extremely grateful if somebody from Greater Manchester or the North West would come forward, however, it is important that I get this interview and therefore I would travel anywhere.

I also think it is important that you know the film is strictly for the use of my studies!

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and if anybody could help me please could you email me on h.rivett@student.salford.ac.uk, or ring me on 07534976905.

Yours Sincerely

Hayley

It can be done!

A tiny 150 year old Post Office in someone's front room in Stroud, Gloucestershire has become only the second closed Post Office to be saved in the UK.

It took a high court injunction, a 73-year-old grandmother, and lots of patience by the parish council - but last night agreement was reached and it should re-open in 3 weeks time.

This is a more rural/community/standalone option than the model developed by Essex. Together the two models now offer a blueprint for anyone wanting to save their local post office - providing they have some Indiana Jones qualities! 9and enough cash!!!)

Full story at http://www.stroudtown.gov.uk/index.php? ... 1&Itemid=1