Post Office Local – will it stamp out our post problems?

Well, I’m glad the Government is making courier services a little bit richer at the expense of the public – again.

I love my local post office on Stoke Newington Church Street in Hackney. True, there are often queues – though they’re rarely as bad as those in the bigger PO on the High Street. And true there are some things you can’t get there (passports, for one); but for most day-to-day transactions, it’s fine. But there’s a friendly atmosphere here that you just don’t get in the bigger branches. The two guys behind the counter are friendly and helpful, and interact with their customers rather than just taking their money. They are part of the community. Stoke Newington is often said to be like a village, and this PO is one of the reasons why. So yes, I’d miss them.

I do have a PO in the centre of town at the back of Sainsbury’s. This is, however, the only one left within a very wide area. We are a rural area and all the village POs have had to close, which leaves a large area of population having to visit the town PO. This means that there are always long queues and one just gives up hope during, say, the Christmas period!

Rural POs are a must for their communities. It is often the only way that villagers get to see each other and to deal with their affairs. POs, like pubs, are the hub of village life and essential to rural communities.

My ‘local’ PO is the main one in the centre of Reading. This gives me all the facilities I want and its version of queuing is quite civilised. I only go there two or three times per year, e.g. to post a parcel etc. I hate the idea of this ‘local PO’ which sounds as though it will have a very limited set of facilities.

My local village PO is useful to me for posting awkward sized letters and buying stamps. It also has a cash machine. It’s all crammed into a tiny shop which sells stationary, newsprint and magazines and sweets.
I hardly ever use it because it flies a large flag of St George over the entrance. Round here that’s an indication of an affiliation to a political tendency which I find loathsome; so, on balance, I wouldn’t mind it if it closed.

Our village sub post office is just about hanging on, but can deal with less and less transactions. I pay in there for our Co-op current account, but since the computer system has been changed in the last year, can no longer pay in for our Co-op business account. We have to go about five miles to a nearby small town Post Office. Also, now that Santander own Alliance and Lester(Giro), why don’t they allow all customers (not just A&L) to pay in and get cash at Post Offices? I think the Govt. has doomed the Post Offices by transfering business to shops etc, and this is damaging to village life. The Post Office has a “Big Society” role as an information and meeting place.

My main post office is slightly nearer to home than my sub. But would I use the main? Would I hell. My main would involve parking (£2.00 at least)and walking My sub is marvellous. Parking is very close; The 3 ladies all know me by name and could not be more helpful. I use it for Royal Mail, foreign currency, Cash withdrawal Via Barclays, gifts to grandchildren etc. It does not do DVLC business, but this can be carried out by post or on-line. Life would be intolerable without it.My sub is a glowing light in an otherwise darkening world.

Our local post office is now the only shop left in the village (other than 2 pubs and a cafe). As well as a post office it sells general household items and it would be a great shame if it was closed. I always try to use it to send small parcels and letters simply to support its existence. The service is outstanding and very personal even though the shop/post office is tiny.
Long may it survive – keep up the great work Tony.