I've just started working for the post office. They are going through very hard times.
Not least because they have lost a lot of customers to other firms. The PO is also
being hit hard by unusual and special competition laws.
The local closures are in no small part due to this and also the recent and continuing
upgrading of postal machines, management changes and the increased demand of
competition.
The PO used to be a public service, now it is really trapped in limbo between a public
service and a capitalist enterprise. It has all the responsibilities and fines of a public
service, but all the competition of a capitalist business.
They have been forced to make service compromises to meet the new business needs.
This is why some offices have closed.
Despite the competition, no companies are seriously opening new local post offices.
Instead they take the high profit work (i.e. mass mail delivery and parcels) away from
the PO and leave the PO with the low profit work. (i.e. mail sorting and small, local offices).
Writing to the PO won't help as they will have already made their mind up about the
impact report on closing the office. I think your best bet is to talk/write to your MP
and when the next election comes up; talk/write to the candidates and see if you can
make it a local election issue. Easier said than done of course; for you and your MP.
