In Sheffield we were told the designation list on 5th Aug - even though some postmasters/ postmistresses had been in MAY, but had been bound to silence by having to sign a confidentiality clause.
We of SCAPOC - Sheffield Communities Against Post Offices Closures - contacted all 16 Post Offices and asked if they wanted to oppose their closure.
Some through ill health , and the unspoken fear of loss of any settlement package, were going to accept redundancy and loss of their homes.
About 5 of the sixteen want to oppose.
Sheffield City Council (Lib/Dem majority) are on record as saying they will oppose the closures. They also state they will be examining business models to maintain services.
They have posted petitions in Libraries across the city and also in council Area Offices. These will then be delivered to 10 Downing Street
We of the Socialist Party in Sheffield have already- before the closures announcement - handed in over 8,000 signatures.
Petitions alone will not be enough to reverse the Government's policy to close 2500 Post Offices.
The council intends to collect and collate relevant data regarding the ones facing closure , information such as the topography of the PO; negative effect on neighbouring PO's [ queues in next nearest , journey time, journey environmental impact( car journeys instead of walking), negative effect on local businesses - especially those that bank with the PO.
This sort of thing has been done in other campaigns and has had next to no effect - closures have just gone ahead.
We of SCAPOC are calling on Sheffield City Council to devise a business approach that is acceptable to the needs of the communities involved. Sheffield City council is putting great emphasis on the detrimental effect closures have on the vulnerable, disabled and senior citizens , who are in the majority of the regular users.
Local TARA s will be getting involved, as will local pensioner groups .
We of SCAPOC also ask that their be a Governing Body set up . Installed Trustees or Commissioner will then have the ability to moniter and oversee the business practices of the business partnerships that are generated , to ensure that the initial aims and principles of the business models are maintained. This Governing Body to be comprised of worthy people from the community , having legal powers to impose proscriptive enforcement .
This is vital to maintain a long term , lasting business approach long into the future , binding on all parties involved.
Michael Bartholomew
Sheffield Socialist Party Member
SCAPOC Steering Committee
Contact :
cornblisteruk@yahoo.co.uk14.08.08
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