Post office protest march
Published Date:
13 June 2008
By Ellen Beardmore
PEACEFUL protestors marched through Pontefract yesterday to highlight the problems that closing a post office in the town would cause.
Customers at the under-threat Hardwick Road branch – many of them disabled or elderly – carried red balloons as they walked from the office to the town centre's Ropergate outlet.
Objectors say shutting the post office on Maple Drive would leave them stranded without services as the town centre site is too far away and too busy.
Pat Danby, chairman of the Friends of Hardwick Road Post Office, which formed to fight the plans, said: "Our protest march shows the difficulties caused if Hardwick Road was to shut.
"If it does, then the town centre office will be the only alternative for services used by many elderly and disabled people.
"But it is quite far away, parking is difficult and its long queues mean long stands for frail people who rely on post offices."
Royal Mail announced last month that the Hardwick Road and Castleford's Pontefract Road post offices were facing the axe in Post Office Ltd's latest cull.
Shocked campaigners were given six weeks' consultation to stamp out closure plans and have responded with a mammoth effort – but now time is running out.
Pat Danby added: "Hardwick Road is a vibrant branch, the only one this side of town and we can't understand the rhyme or reason for shutting it.
"We have a lot of support, signatures on our petition as well as feedback from two weeks of surveys – now we will collate the information to create a full objection."
Controversial closures – blamed on high costs and fewer customers – will take place from June to November.
Objections can be made by writing to National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team or calling 08457 22 33 44. The deadline for objections is Monday June 23.
The full article contains 310 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
11 June 2008 12:59 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Pontefract & Castleford