MARGATE CROWN POST OFFICE

Thanet District Council are set to debate the possible relocation and downgrading of Margate's historic Crown Post Office at their Council meeting on 3rd October.

 

The motion ,which is being proposed by the Cabinet member for Community Development, Councillor Iris Johnston is to be seconded by Councillor Will Scobie who has been leading the campaign with Labour Colleagues in Margate over the last several weeks.

 

The motion asks all members to endorse a request to the Leader Councillor Clive Hart and is as follows.

Thanet District Council supports the Communication Workers Union in their efforts to stop the privatisation and down grading of 70 Crown Post Offices, including our Margate office, and the further closure of 6 offices with a  total loss of over 800 jobs.

 

We welcome the wide support of many local people who wish to keep the Crown Post Office in it's existing historic building in Cecil Square. The nearest will be at Ashford and Faversham should this service be franchised out.

 

We request the Leader  writes a letter of concern to:

 

 Paula Venells, Post Office Chief Executive, 148 Old Street, London, EC1 9HQ.

 

We would further request the Leader to write to the Under Secretary of State with Parliamentary responsibility for Post Offices informing him of the detrimental impact on services to the public in a franchised facility and include the MP for North Thanet Sir Roger Gale in that correspondance.

 

Councillor Johnston said:

 

"I have been concerned from as far back as last March that our own Crown Post office is  not only likely to be moved from Cecil Square but downgraded to nothing more than a franchise in the  back of an existing store.

 

There is a great affecton for the office in its present positon but if it has to move it must be kept in a prominent position in the town. Even with the present large facility the queues are often down Hawley Street.  I cannot see how the service could be relocated in to a shared shop with less staff".

 

Councillor Will Scobie added:

"The loss of Crown Post Office special services along with  jobs and privacy for customers is a major concern and I hope everyone is signing the petitions  and sending on the Post cards we  are delivering throughout Margate central and other nearby wards".