Save Broad Chalke Post Office
The Petition
Why Close Broad Chalke Post Office
In December 2006 the Post Office, backed by the Department of Trade and industry announced that 2500 to 3000 Post Offices would be closed, mainly in rural areas. Royal Mail have announced, that Broad Chalke Post Office, is one of the 36 Wiltshire post offices which has been flagged for closure. The consultation period runs until 31st January 2008.
So why close Post Offices Well the situation is basically down to money. Royal Mail currently operate 14000 post offices throughout the UK, which is an expensive network to operate, and this network is not making money - it runs at a huge loss. This is seen as a problem for Royal Mail despite the fact that it is fully owned by the public, who essentially sustain its losses through the tax we pay.
We can fully understand in some instances that certain post offices may have become unncessary BUT Royal Mail has axed 4000 post offices since 1999 (in 1999 there were 18000 post offices), and with further cuts they will essentially have HALVED the number by 2013. This is made more worrying by a statement made last December where Royal Mail claimed the network would be sustainable with just 5000 offices!
Royal Mail is clearly streamlining itself, and the motivation for such changes rings true of pre-privatisation. Subsidies at government level are decreasing, services which post offices provide are being made more direct, soon we will receive later post, maybe less frequently and it\'s all in a bid to cut costs. Closing Broad Chalke Post Office, along with 36 others in Wiltshire is only the tip of the iceberg in how services are proposed to \'change for the better\'.
FACTS
Royal Mail Letters made 345m PROFIT in 2005/2006
Post Offices/Sub Post Offices made 111m LOSS in 2005/2006
Other group operations made 110m PROFIT in 2005/2006
OVERALL ROYAL MAIL GROUP MADE 355m PROFIT in 2005/2006 - See THEIR OWN STATEMENT HERE
http://www.news.royalmailgroup.com/news/article.aspid=1728&brand=royal_mail_group
Their statement goes on to say that a bonus of nearly £100m was paid to the management and staff of Royal Mail.
Taking this even further a 111m loss on the actual sub post-offices themselves might sound like a lot of money It depends, to you and me then yes, its more money than we will ever see BUT in government terms it really isn\'t that much (less than the cost of two Eurofighters!). The Post Office is a NATIONAL ASSET and is totally self financing as part of the Royal Mail.
Facts about Broad Chalke Post Office
Broad Chalke Post Office currently serves many people in it\'s direct locality as well as the villages of Ebbesbourne Wake, Bowerchalke and Bishopstone along with commercial customers, who find the service and convenience an essential for everyday life. As a result of the closures the nearest Post Office will be Fovant a journey of 5 miles or more which includes a treacherous stretch of road down into the Wylie valley.
Each week Broad Chalke Post Office handles
Pension and benefit payments for families
Parcels & Mail
Bill payments
Unlike many modern businesses or services Sue has strived to provide a personal service to all customers - she knows virtually everyone by name, and people don\'t feel \'processed\' like they may do in other places. Furthermore the Chalke valley is a rural community with many residents representing the most vulnerable in our society being either elderly or infirm.
The Post Office represents so much more than a place to transact business it represents independence, a place that allows people to stay in control of their lives for longer. A direct result of closure will result in more people in this rural community becoming dependent on other agencies to help with their everyday life.
On top of this, like many sub post offices, Sue provides a friendly warm atmosphere, advice on the full range of Royal Mail products and services.
The post office is a busy thriving place, the hub of the village, we love it and need it to keep our community whole.
