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Spring 2009 Post
Office survey - initial findings
Over 2,000 residents
have so far responded to my local consultation about ways local people
think post offices can thrive in years to come.
I often carry out
local surveys. I believe it's essential for any political representative
to stay in close touch with local opinion. Surveys are far from being
the only way to do this, but they play a valuable part. This particular
one, which ran during the Spring, struck a real chord right across North
East Somerset.
With so many things that people traditionally did at post offices now
easily done over the internet and in other ways, it's essential that branches
adapt. They need to find new services and ways of operating to help them
prosper. They must retain existing customers, and attract new ones as
well.
The network has been heavily subsidised by the Government in recent years.
The Conservatives in power never subsidised post offices, leading
to them closing 3,500 branches - the biggest ever closure programme. Having
learned nothing they still don't believe in any subsidy. Under their plans
all non-profitable branches would close - removing many local branches.
The Labour Government is right to subsidise the network, but post offices
do need to respond by moving with the times.
People who completed my survey identified a number of new services that
might be offered by branches. Many build on the well-established idea
of the post office being the hub of a local community. Suggestions
for new services included coffee shops, seated areas and community information
points. And a number of people would like to see financial advisors visiting
post offices, to help those who have lost faith in the major banks.
I've already given the detailed initial survey findings to Government
Ministers to ensure the views of North East Somerset residents are
taken fully into account as we seek to further shape a modern post office
network. I've also met Post Office bosses to brief them on the
survey outcomes. And I've sent the findings to B&NES. Nine
out of ten people felt the Council should be doing more to link up with
our local post office network to help support branches. Councils in other
parts of the country are doing imaginative things to team up with trusted
post offices. People rightly wonder: on this, as with so many other things,
why is B&NES again lagging behind?
To read the initial
consultation findings in full please use this link
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