Future of Moatfield post office in Bushey
06-Nov-2008 15:41:00
The future is uncertain for a post office in Bushey following the announcement on Tuesday(4 November) that the proposal to close it has been deferred for a further review by Postwatch, the independent watchdog for postal services in the UK.
The Moatfield branch in Harcourt Road was included in the proposed closures list when Post Office Ltd decided not to close four branches outside of Hertsmere; at the same time as it announced three post offices in the borough would be closed, including one in Bushey. There was a six-week public consultation which ended on 13 October and during this time, the leaders of all three parties at Hertsmere Borough Council met with representatives from Post Office Ltd to discuss their concerns at the proposed closure of another post office in the area.
Leader of the Council Morris Bright said: "We understand that the proposal to close the Moatfield branch has been taken to the next stage of the review process. This means Postwatch will be meeting with Post Office Ltd to raise their concerns about the closure of the branch.
"We made it clear when we met with representatives from Post Office Ltd that we strongly objected to the closure of a second post office in Bushey. One of the things we highlighted was the fact that their figures on the number of people using the branch were distorted by the temporary reduction of people living in the former MOD estate.
"The decision on it's closure has not yet been made so we must have made some impact. We will continue to campaign to keep it open as it is a vital service in the local community."
A spokesperson for Postwatch (now part of Consumer Focus) said: "Following public consultation, Postwatch South East has escalated this case to stage two of the review process. The concerns we have are: there are significant new housing developments in the local area that Postwatch do not think Post Office Ltd has given full consideration to; the post office is located in a relatively deprived community with an above average number of vulnerable and elderly persons and single parent families; and the bus service to the next nearest post office is unreliable and the bus stop closest to the alternative post office involves a 400 yard, steep uphill walk."
A decision booklet published by Post Office Ltd stated: "Where Postwatch can show, in respect of an individual branch, Post Office Limited has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or where evidence emerges from the consultation that the proposal for that branch does not meet the Government's policy requirements, there is an agreed review mechanism between Postwatch and Post Office Ltd.
"Postwatch does not have a power of veto on Post Office Ltds decisions."
Gary Herbert, Post Office Ltds Network Development Manager for South Essex, South Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, said: "We still have more branches open in the area than all the major banks and building societies combined and 99.5 per cent of people will see no change to the branch they currently use or will remain within a mile of an alternative."
Cllr Bright added: "The Moatfield branch wasn't in the original proposals and was put forward for closure because other branches outside of Hertsmere were being kept open which doesn't seem fair or logical."
