|
Mini
market at the Post Office?
The
Putney Post Office is to be
part of a franchise to a private
company called London Post Ltd,
and the Upper Richmond Road
site will be redeveloped to
include a mini market combined
with the postal services. The
majority of the staff will be
relocated to other London offices
which has angered many staff
and union representatives.
London
Post Ltd plans to open the new style "shop" on November
12.
A
spokesman for the Post Office said the move was part of a
government drive to cut the cost of running town and city
outlets by £50 million a year to help maintain the rural
post office network. The spokesman said more than 900 post
offices have been franchised nationwide and 95 per cent of
them have reported decreased waiting times and speedier transactions.
He added full services will continue, as well as the introduction
of extended opening times.
But
the Communication Workers Union
(CWU) condemned the move and
is calling on people who use
Putney Post Office to show their
support by signing a petition
opposing the change. CWU regional
representative Ian Ward said:
"We are going to begin
a campaign to retain Putney
as a directly managed outlet
and will be seeking users to
sign petitions and write to
the Post Office and their local
MPs."
The
CWU and Putney staff say the
move is nothing more than a
cost-cutting exercise in the
wake of falling profits. They
also claim levels of service
will suffer. Its a very successful
office and one of the most efficient
in south west London. This is
not likely to be the case once
the changes are made. There
will probably be less counter
staff and less space dedicated
for the post office aspect of
the site, Mr Ward added.
An
eight-week public consultation
began in the second half of
August but has been blasted
by Putney MP Tony Colman as
nothing but a sham, given that
a decision has already been
made. "For the Post Office
network to offer consultation
after the event is to pile insult
on injury. The way in which
this matter has been handled
is an absolute classic in mismanagement"
he said.
Do
you have a view on the future of the Post Office? Use
our pages to express yourself! E-mail to
editor@ putneysw15.com or
contribute to our forum
A Public Opposition
Meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 26th September at
Lady North Hall, Ravenna Road. 6.30-8.30 p.m.
Connected
story
|