4 days Ago
A campaign has been launched to save a post office at risk of closure. The Devonshire Square branch in Bexhill is included in a list of post offices that could be shut down. The news came in an announcement from the Post Office this week that its directly managed post offices which are losing money could be closed or transferred to other retail partners or postmasters , leaving around 1,000 jobs at risk.
Also included in the list was the Melville Road branch in Hove. MP for Bexhill and Battle Kieran Mullan has now started a petition in a bid to prevent the Bexhill branch from getting the axe. The petition will be sent to the CEO of Post Office Ltd Nick Read and the minister with responsibility for the Post Office at the Department for Business and Trade, Gareth Thomas MP.
“I know just how important the Bexhill post office is to the residents of Bexhill and surrounding rural areas,” wrote Mr Mullan. “The loss of four major banks from our high streets has had a big impact on the town and residents were told that their day to day banking needs could be met by the Post Office. “It is therefore vital that we do not lose this service or the highly experienced Post Office staff who understand and serve the community so well.
” Councillor Christine Bayliss, portfolio holder for regeneration and economic development at Rother District Council, also spoke out against the possible closure. “We understand that the Post Office Ltd is considering the closure of the Bexhill-on-Sea branch as part of a nationwide closure programme, although we have yet to receive official notification from the Post Office,” she said. “It is absolutely vital that the services currently provided by the Post Office in Bexhill continue to be available for local people and businesses.
“Even with alternative provision in the town, we are well aware of the impact a closure could have on our community, businesses and town centre. “We will share details of any consultation once it’s released and encourage anyone who would be affected to take part.” A Post Office spokesman said: “We are considering a range of options to reduce our central costs.
“This includes considering the future of our remaining directly managed branches (DMBs), which are loss-making. “We have long held a publicly stated ambition to move to a fully franchised network and we are in dialogue with the unions about future options for the DMBs.” Post Office chairman Nigel Railton said the company will offer “a new deal for postmasters” by increasing their share of revenue and giving them a greater say in the running of the business.
In the announcement at the Post Office headquarters in London, Mr Railton referenced the Horizon scandal which saw sub-postmasters and mistresses wrongly convicted due to errors in the IT system. He said: “The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters. “We can, and will, restore pride in working for a business with a legacy of service, rather than one of scandal.
”.
