Lib Dem Response to the Post Office National Consultation Manager on the Proposed Folkestone Post Office Closure

We have had a huge number of objections from across Folkestone to your proposal to close the Folkestone Central Post office and replace it with a franchise facility in WHSmith on Sandgate Road. Please find enclosed the current signatories from both postal and online petitions - numbering in their hundreds - who object to your proposals.

The current Post Office site occupies a key location in a handsome building right by the Central Bus Station, and crucially, directly opposite a major new shopping centre development, Bouverie Square, which opens later this year. The WHSMith site you propose is further from the bus station, and also the new shopping centre. The current Post Office site will see a large increase in footfall past its front door on opening the new shopping centre: WHSmith will not.

Equally, the current Post Office store shares a building with the Royal Mail, which as there is a collection point for items there at the rear of the Post office provides a useful synergy of services. A move to WHSmith will lose that useful link.

The proposed facility in WHSmith will be towards the rear of the store, which in itself will have access issues as users will have to negotiate the existing services of WHSmith. the number of service positions is not extended, and offers no more service, if not less, than your current busy facility, and indeed queues are likely to increase as the staff at the new franchise are unlikely to have anything like the same level of expertise as your current staff. Equally, you are proposing not to add a stamp vending machine, for reasons you do not make clear, further adding to queues.

Overall, your proposal will reduce the level of service offered to Folkestone, and ignores the significant opportunity you have in a key location to enhance your service, profile and profitability on your existing site. Post Office Ltd seems to be degrading the service available across Folkestone, and degrading the profile of Post office services within Folkestone.

Your point on extended opening hours is of course a red herring: you could clearly choose to operate from 9-17.30 Monday to Saturday at the existing branch if you chose to do so.

I note your letter to Shepway Council, incorrectly addressed to the previous Chief Executive Ron Thompson, dated 8 May, which subsequently has been circulated to Councillors. Can I ask what efforts you have made to promote your proposals to the residents of Folkestone - the answer from here appears to be "no successful ones".

Your letter refers to a closing date for feedback on the facilities as 20 June 2007. However you have told almost no-one about this deadline, and as responses continue to come back to this office, I assume you will continue to accept responses after that date, as your deadline is arbitrary, too short, and poorly advertised. I am copying this letter (without the many hundreds of petition responses) to Postwatch for their view, and strongly request that you confirm that responses received after this date will also be considered, and the feedback deadline extended and properly advertised.

You have in Folkestone a really well positioned facility, that has a large regular user base, with a large new shopping centre scheduled to open opposite it within the next six months. Any other commercial operation would be looking at opportunities to extend and enhance its services at its current location.

Please take this opportunity to retain the goodwill clearly felt towards the Post Office in Folkestone and reconsider your decision to relocate services to a significantly less suitable building, and to lose key staff that offer a service that is massively valued locally.

Regards,

Tim Prater

For Shepway (Folkestone & Hythe) Liberal Democrats

Enc. Petition Signatories against the close of Folkestone Post Office

CC. Postwatch, 22 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0TT