POST OFFICE LTD SHOULD BE ASHAMED AT ITS TREATMENT OF FALMOUTH

Julia Goldsworthy <info@juliagoldsworthy.org>

POST OFFICE LTD SHOULD BE ASHAMED AT ITS TREATMENT OF FALMOUTH - GOLDSWORTHY

January 12, 2009 2:30 PM

Julia Goldsworthy MP and Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Terrye Teverson have condemned Post Office Ltd for its proposed relocation of Falmouth Post Office. The consultation on plans to relocate the branch into Costcutter finishes on Wednesday, January 14th. Julia met Post Office representatives to discuss her concerns about the proposals on Friday.

She told them how the exact scheme was rejected several years ago amid concerns over the capacity of the store, and safety of access. Since then, Bowling Green and Arwenack Street sub-post offices have closed in the town, and in the last few months The Bar, Flushing and Budock Water have followed suit. Arwenack Street sub-post office is also set for closure.

Ms Goldsworthy said the changes have all placed additional pressures on the main Post Office in Falmouth, which has also seen unplanned closures.

She said: "People in Falmouth are right to be furious with the way in which Post Offices have been closed in and around the town, and the impact that this has had on the quality of service that they receive.

"Once again they are facing a further creeping erosion to their services, with a consultation that gives them no other alternative. Post Office Limited should be ashamed at the way that they have treated customers in Falmouth.

"They should not simply revive proposals that have already been rejected, without clear and indisputable evidence that previous concerns have been addressed. It is not good enough to insist this is the only option. People in Falmouth deserve better."

Terrye Teverson, who has also campaigned against the closures, added: "The Post Office continues to ignore the view of the people of Falmouth. The existing premises are still available for use according to the owner of the building. The move to Costcutter was proposed four years ago and thrown out. Local police then and now do not feel that it is a good site for a post office due to safety reasons.

"Post Office Ltd officials appear to have no interest in listening to any views - we saw that last year when they shut down Bar Road and Killigrew Street Post offices against local wishes."