This petition is now closed.

Post Office Ltd proposed closing local branches in Milverton and Warwick. I called a public meeting on Thursday 24th July, 2008 for local residents to make their views known to Post Office managers.

I launched a petition on this page, which I submitted to Post Office managers.

I also wrote directly expressing my own serious concerns about Post Office proposals - you can read the text of my letter below.

Text of Letter from James Plaskitt MP to Post Office Ltd Consultation Team

Mark Partington

Network Development Manager

National Consultation Team

FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

July 24, 2008

Milverton Post Office, Leamington Spa

Following a substantial number of representations made to me by my constituents, and by those who attended a large public meeting today, I am writing to urge you to reconsider the proposal to close Milverton Post Office.

The reasons for this are:

The post office serves a substantial and growing community. I believe the business is increasing - and likely to increase as we see further growth in the area.  Of all the offices in the West Midlands area listed for closure, it is amongst the busiest.  As your Head of External Relations, Michael Dalton, said at our public meeting, this branch is “reasonably well used.”

Although the technical access rule may be satisfied in respect of transferring business to Clarendon St, it isn’t in reality.  The on-foot journey from Warwick Place to Clarendon Street involves the crossing of either two or three (depending on route) very busy roads.  This will effectively cut off post office access for too many elderly Milverton residents, together with those with any mobility problems.  The route is not flat.  Furthermore, there is no east-west bus link between these two sites.

It is doubtful whether the Clarendon Street branch, though larger, could easily cope with the business that might transfer from Milverton.  Business volumes at Clarendon Street have already grown following the previous round of closures.

The closure of the Milverton office would leave no office in the western half of Leamington (taking the Parade as the dividing line).  The suggestion that Warwick offices might be a western alternative is impractical.

For those with vehicular access, parking in close proximity to the Clarendon Street branch is extremely problematic at most times of the day - again underlining the point that it simply isn’t a straightforward alternative.

I therefore believe that on this strong evidence, the proposed closure of the Milverton branch does not fit with the criteria which have been set down for making these branch closure assessments.

I accept the pressure which the Post Office is under, and I would not agree with those saying there should simply be no closures.  Post Office has some hard decisions to make.  But over recent years, Leamington and Warwick have seen a substantial number of closures, and I believe the current distribution of branches in the two towns stands at the  minimum acceptable level.  Removing further offices now would call into question whether this vital service would be in a position to meet the needs of the community.

Yours sincerely,

James Plaskitt MP