Sir, The Handside Post Office closes on Tuesday, November 18, at 5.30 pm. Without doubt this is one of the most infamous and disgusting decisions made by a public authority in recent times. It discriminates against the elderly and infirm.
Sir,
The Handside Post Office closes on Tuesday, November 18, at 5.30 pm.
Without doubt this is one of the most infamous and disgusting decisions made by a public authority in recent times.
It discriminates against the elderly and infirm.
It marks a new low in the rush to achieve profitability with scant regard for public service. Astonishingly, turnover and profitability were NOT factors that were considered in the decision to close our post office.
To mark this infamous act, the Council of War, which I convened, will be gathering outside the Handside Post Office in Marsden Road on Tuesday November 18 at 4pm to give Mr Alan Leighton, the chairman of Post Office Ltd, the "Thumbs Down".
All residents are most welcome to join us for a photo-call and a final demonstration of defiance.
The last transaction that the Post Office will make will be to register a letter to Mr Leighton saying this:
"Sir: As a direct result of the infamous and illogical decision taken by you and your organisation to close the Marsden Road sub-post office in Welwyn Garden City, hundreds of elderly and infirm pensioners in the Handside area will be deprived of essential services on which they depend. These include drawing pensions, personal banking, National Savings and Investments and posting parcels.
The role of the post office in providing a social focus for our community has also been ignored.
We, the residents - the local community - condemn you for your insensitivity and seeming inability to understand the needs of our people.
These same people, of whom many are in their late 80s, even 90s, made their contributions to winning the war that gives you the freedom to make this infamous decision.
They now feel harshly treated and abandoned - for which you bear a heavy responsibility.
We give due notice now that we shall continue to find a way of providing these essential services for our community - even if you cannot..
Yours in anger and disgust
Dr Dennis Lewis
On behalf of the Handside community of Welwyn Garden City
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here