East Midlands Today is running a 2 minute segment on the new wave of proposed closures in Leics which now brings the regional total to 118.
We were invited to take part in this segment and John Robinson very kindly took up the call and rushed over to Carrington Post Office to be interviewed.
Tune in tonight to see the coverage.
Tuesday 20 November 2007
Wednesday 7 November 2007
Carrington Residents' Association
Carrington Residents' Association meets at 7pm on the first Monday of every month in the upstairs bar in the Gladstone Pub on Loscoe Road.
The next meeting is 7pm Monday 3 December.
The next meeting is 7pm Monday 3 December.
March to MPs office at 2pm Friday 9 November
Save Carrington Post Office
March to MPs Office with Petition
2pm Fri 9 Nov
March to MPs Office with Petition
2pm Fri 9 Nov
Start: outside Carrington Post Office, 355 Mansfield St
End: John Heppell’s Office, 9 Trinity Square
End: John Heppell’s Office, 9 Trinity Square
Local residents and customers of CPO have collected 3,500 signatures and are going to hand deliver them to John Heppell, MP who is going to present the petition to the House of Commons.
Please join the march and support your local PO.
We will hopefully be joined by local councillors and a marching band. Feel free to dress up [or down] and bring your own instruments to join in the music!
A big thank you to everyone that has written a letter, delivered leaflets, put up posters, signed the petition, attended the demos, carried out research, dressed up, written articles, contacted the media, donated money, and supported the campaign.
John Heppell, MP has received the largest amount of mail ever for a Post Office closure which is a big achievement.
I don’t use the Post Office, why does this affect me?
Even if you don’t frequently use the Post Office itself, you may use the surrounding shops which will all be impacted by the lost of passing trade and if this area goes then our community will go with it. Please support this campaign.
A big thank you to everyone that has written a letter, delivered leaflets, put up posters, signed the petition, attended the demos, carried out research, dressed up, written articles, contacted the media, donated money, and supported the campaign.
John Heppell, MP has received the largest amount of mail ever for a Post Office closure which is a big achievement.
I don’t use the Post Office, why does this affect me?
Even if you don’t frequently use the Post Office itself, you may use the surrounding shops which will all be impacted by the lost of passing trade and if this area goes then our community will go with it. Please support this campaign.
I haven’t written yet, what do I do?
There’s still time if you haven’t written a letter yet. The deadline is Monday 12 Nov. Even if you have already written a letter you can always write another if you have further comments to make. You can send the same letter to both Post Office Ltd and PostWatch
There’s still time if you haven’t written a letter yet. The deadline is Monday 12 Nov. Even if you have already written a letter you can always write another if you have further comments to make. You can send the same letter to both Post Office Ltd and PostWatch
Write to:
Postwatch Midlands
Postwatch Midlands
c/o Regional support team
Freepost
28 - 30 Grosvenor GardensLONDON SW1W 0TT
midlands@postwatch.co.uk
Freepost
28 - 30 Grosvenor GardensLONDON SW1W 0TT
midlands@postwatch.co.uk
Mark Partington
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
C/o National Consultation Team
Freepost Consultation Team
consultation@postoffice.co.uk
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
C/o National Consultation Team
Freepost Consultation Team
consultation@postoffice.co.uk
Jane Urguhart
1 Yew Tree AvenueCarringtonNottingham NG5 2DN
urquhart_jane@yahoo.co.uk
1 Yew Tree AvenueCarringtonNottingham NG5 2DN
urquhart_jane@yahoo.co.uk
Carrington Residents Association meets at 7pm every first Monday of the month in the upstairs bar of The Gladstone pub
Help needed - marching band
Does anyone happen to know of any marching bands? We'd like to get one for the march to deliver the petition to John Heppell's office.
Unfortunately, I still don't know when this will be, I've left a message at his office as no one is answering the phone.
If you do know of one that would be willing to get involved, can you please let me know; bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk or 0115 985 7330 or 07801 737445.
Thanks
Unfortunately, I still don't know when this will be, I've left a message at his office as no one is answering the phone.
If you do know of one that would be willing to get involved, can you please let me know; bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk or 0115 985 7330 or 07801 737445.
Thanks
What can I do to help?
WRITE A LETTER
The single most important thing that you can do is to write a letter to Post Office Ltd and PostWatch. It's likely to be a case of 'who shouts loudest' so we need to SHOUT!
You can write the same letter to both Post Office and PostWatch, and please also copy in Councillor Jane Urquhart and John Heppell, MP.
The contact details are:
Postwatch Midlands
c/o Regional Support Team
28 - 30 Grosvenor Gardens
LONDON SW1W 0TT
midlands@postwatch.co.uk
Mark Partington
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
John Heppell MP
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
johnheppellmp@yahoo.co.uk
Jane Urguhart
1 Yew Tree Avenue
Carrington
Nottingham NG5 2DN
urquhart_jane@yahoo.co.uk
JOIN THE MARCH TO JOHN HEPPELL MP'S OFFICE
Within the next few days we will be marching from outside Carrington Post Office to John Heppell's office in Trinity Square where we will hand deliver the full petition which has 3,500 signatures.
If you are interested in joining, please ensure that Beki Anderson has your email or tel no. bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk
The single most important thing that you can do is to write a letter to Post Office Ltd and PostWatch. It's likely to be a case of 'who shouts loudest' so we need to SHOUT!
You can write the same letter to both Post Office and PostWatch, and please also copy in Councillor Jane Urquhart and John Heppell, MP.
The contact details are:
Postwatch Midlands
c/o Regional Support Team
28 - 30 Grosvenor Gardens
LONDON SW1W 0TT
midlands@postwatch.co.uk
Mark Partington
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
John Heppell MP
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
johnheppellmp@yahoo.co.uk
Jane Urguhart
1 Yew Tree Avenue
Carrington
Nottingham NG5 2DN
urquhart_jane@yahoo.co.uk
JOIN THE MARCH TO JOHN HEPPELL MP'S OFFICE
Within the next few days we will be marching from outside Carrington Post Office to John Heppell's office in Trinity Square where we will hand deliver the full petition which has 3,500 signatures.
If you are interested in joining, please ensure that Beki Anderson has your email or tel no. bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk
Why Save Carrington Post Office?
Here are some of the key arguments for keeping Carrington Post Office open:
Carrington Post Office is one of the top 25 performing post offices in the region and with 62% of custom being mail [which according to John Heppell, MP is the figure] it is profitable. One local resident has monitored the transaction during half term and found there was an average of 250 customers per day. This may be partly due to its key location which serves a large catchment area; Carrington, Mapperley Park [up to and including parts of Woodborough Road], the Arboretum, Sherwood and Sherwood Rise, and also the fact there are no easy alternatives.
The Beech Avenue branch, one of the two alternative branches the Post Office recommended, may seem to be close as the crow flies, but it is inaccessible by public transport, and is not within an easy walking distance of Carrington as it involves crossing two main roads and negotiating narrow pavements blocked with obstacles such as litter bins. There is very little parking available and the spaces are always full.
The Sherwood branch, another recommended alternative, is already experiencing long queues which form down the high street. It will not be able to cope with the extra custom should Carrington close, and would struggle even further should Woodland Grove close down too. Again, it is not within an easy walking distance due to a very steep hill between Carrington and Sherwood and there is no disabled access.
In a Wheelchair Accessibility Test, organised by the action group, Doreen Sim who has used the Carrington branch twice a week for the last 24 years, made the journey to the Sherwood branch. Her current journey takes just 5 minutes each way along level terrain, wide pavements, no roads to cross and access into Carrington Post Office is very good with a level entrance, wide doorway and room to maneouver inside.
Doreen's journey to Sherwood Post Office took 20 minutes each way which included going up and down a steep hill and crossing one many and many side roads with varying levels of height and steep angles to negotiate. At one point Doreen's wheelchair almost toppled while crossing one of these side roads. When Doreen did finally reach Sherwood Post Office, she was unable to enter due to a step at the entrance and would not have been able to maneouvre inside if she had due to the queuing system and quantity of people already inside. Not only was this already an exhausting journey for Doreen, but it would also be an impossible one if the weather were too bad. If Carrington Post Office closes, Doreen, and other customers like her will not be catered for and the Post Office will lose them as customers.
The Carrington branch is located within a thriving community with 14 shops such as a pharmacist, florist and newsagent’s, and this combination makes both the Post Office and the surrounding shops popular. Should Carrington Post Office close, all the surrounding shops will suffer from a knock on affect as the average of 250 Carrington Post Office customers each day will go elsewhere.
There is a large groundswell of support locally including the vicar, doctors, councillors and MP. Local residents have distributed leaflets 5,000 leaflets, obtained 3,500 petition signatures, generated media coverage including a half page lead in Nottingham Evening Post and two slots on East Midlands Today and have held three demonstration days attracting over 100 people.
Carrington Post Office is one of the top 25 performing post offices in the region and with 62% of custom being mail [which according to John Heppell, MP is the figure] it is profitable. One local resident has monitored the transaction during half term and found there was an average of 250 customers per day. This may be partly due to its key location which serves a large catchment area; Carrington, Mapperley Park [up to and including parts of Woodborough Road], the Arboretum, Sherwood and Sherwood Rise, and also the fact there are no easy alternatives.
The Beech Avenue branch, one of the two alternative branches the Post Office recommended, may seem to be close as the crow flies, but it is inaccessible by public transport, and is not within an easy walking distance of Carrington as it involves crossing two main roads and negotiating narrow pavements blocked with obstacles such as litter bins. There is very little parking available and the spaces are always full.
The Sherwood branch, another recommended alternative, is already experiencing long queues which form down the high street. It will not be able to cope with the extra custom should Carrington close, and would struggle even further should Woodland Grove close down too. Again, it is not within an easy walking distance due to a very steep hill between Carrington and Sherwood and there is no disabled access.
In a Wheelchair Accessibility Test, organised by the action group, Doreen Sim who has used the Carrington branch twice a week for the last 24 years, made the journey to the Sherwood branch. Her current journey takes just 5 minutes each way along level terrain, wide pavements, no roads to cross and access into Carrington Post Office is very good with a level entrance, wide doorway and room to maneouver inside.
Doreen's journey to Sherwood Post Office took 20 minutes each way which included going up and down a steep hill and crossing one many and many side roads with varying levels of height and steep angles to negotiate. At one point Doreen's wheelchair almost toppled while crossing one of these side roads. When Doreen did finally reach Sherwood Post Office, she was unable to enter due to a step at the entrance and would not have been able to maneouvre inside if she had due to the queuing system and quantity of people already inside. Not only was this already an exhausting journey for Doreen, but it would also be an impossible one if the weather were too bad. If Carrington Post Office closes, Doreen, and other customers like her will not be catered for and the Post Office will lose them as customers.
The Carrington branch is located within a thriving community with 14 shops such as a pharmacist, florist and newsagent’s, and this combination makes both the Post Office and the surrounding shops popular. Should Carrington Post Office close, all the surrounding shops will suffer from a knock on affect as the average of 250 Carrington Post Office customers each day will go elsewhere.
There is a large groundswell of support locally including the vicar, doctors, councillors and MP. Local residents have distributed leaflets 5,000 leaflets, obtained 3,500 petition signatures, generated media coverage including a half page lead in Nottingham Evening Post and two slots on East Midlands Today and have held three demonstration days attracting over 100 people.
What's Next?
We have just five days left until the 12 November deadline, so what are we going to do?
MARCH TO HAND DELIVER PETITION TO JOHN HEPPELL'S OFFICE
Starting from outside Carrington Post Office, 355 Mansfield Road, we will walk in a long line - hopefully with a marching band, councillors and police escort - to John Heppell's office in Trinity Square where he will receive the 3,500 strong petition which he will present to Parliament.
Copies of the petition will also be sent to Post Office Ltd and PostWatch.
I'm still waiting to hear from John Heppell's Parliamentary Assistant as to when this march can happen. Watch this space.....
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are currently making some enquiries into whether or not we should / could start legal proceedings against the proposed closure / public consultation. I'll keep you updated.
WRITE LETTERS TO POST OFFICE LTD AND POSTWATCH
If you haven't already written your letters, please do and ensure they will be delivered / emailed before the 12 November deadline.
Or, if you have already written a letter, but now have more that you would like to say, please write again!
Those addresses are:
Postwatch Midlands
c/o Regional support team
28 - 30 Grosvenor Gardens
LONDON SW1W 0TT
midlands@postwatch.co.uk
Mark Partington
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
And please send copies to:
John Heppell MP
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
johnheppellmp@yahoo.co.uk
Jane Urguhart
1 Yew Tree Avenue
Carrington
Nottingham NG5 2DN
urquhart_jane@yahoo.co.uk
MARCH TO HAND DELIVER PETITION TO JOHN HEPPELL'S OFFICE
Starting from outside Carrington Post Office, 355 Mansfield Road, we will walk in a long line - hopefully with a marching band, councillors and police escort - to John Heppell's office in Trinity Square where he will receive the 3,500 strong petition which he will present to Parliament.
Copies of the petition will also be sent to Post Office Ltd and PostWatch.
I'm still waiting to hear from John Heppell's Parliamentary Assistant as to when this march can happen. Watch this space.....
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are currently making some enquiries into whether or not we should / could start legal proceedings against the proposed closure / public consultation. I'll keep you updated.
WRITE LETTERS TO POST OFFICE LTD AND POSTWATCH
If you haven't already written your letters, please do and ensure they will be delivered / emailed before the 12 November deadline.
Or, if you have already written a letter, but now have more that you would like to say, please write again!
Those addresses are:
Postwatch Midlands
c/o Regional support team
28 - 30 Grosvenor Gardens
LONDON SW1W 0TT
midlands@postwatch.co.uk
Mark Partington
Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
And please send copies to:
John Heppell MP
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
johnheppellmp@yahoo.co.uk
Jane Urguhart
1 Yew Tree Avenue
Carrington
Nottingham NG5 2DN
urquhart_jane@yahoo.co.uk
Our Campaign Aims & Achievements
The Save Carrington Post Office Action Group has the following aims:
- To save Carrington Post Office [of course!]
- To raise awareness of the proposed Post Office closures
- To encourage as many people as possible to write letters to Post Office, PostWatch and John Heppell, MP
- Collected 3,500 signatures in a petition
- Designed and delivered 5,000 leaflets via street handouts, letterbox drops and demos
- Created and postitioned five banners and various posters
- Generated three news articles and one feature in Nottingham Evening Post, three news slots on Trent Radio, two news slots on East Midlands Today and one news slot on BBC Radio Nottingham
- Facilitated the largest mail bag of post received by John Heppell, MP about any previous Post Office closure ever
- Held three demos outside Carrington Post Office which attracted a total of over 100 people and our local MP and some councillors
- Had inter-residents associations support between Carrington, Sherwood Rise and Mapperley Park
Photos
Sat 3 November Wheelchair Accessibility Test with Doreen Sim:
John Heppel's Visit and Impromptu Demo
Further images can be seen at:
Sat 3 November Demo Outside CPO
Further images can be seen at:
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/10/384727.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/11/385039.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/11/385115.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/11/385039.html
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/11/385115.html
John Heppel's Visit and Impromptu Demo
Latest News & Updates
Sat 3 Nov Demo:
Well done and thank you to everyone that managed to get along to today's demo. In addition to the gorilla and dalek who made repeat appearances, we had a pirate, a rabbit and Tubbs from A League of Gentlemen. Most amusing and very attention grabbing - a special thank you to everyone that dressed up!
Despite being told by the Nottingham Evening Post that they wouldn't cover us any further, they actually sent two people over and there was a small announcement in today's paper about the demo. We also had a mention on Trent radio and two freelance reporters - both accompanied Doreen Sim on her wheelchair accessibility test. If anyone knows of any other media coverage that I haven't mentioned here then please let me know.
Well done and thank you to everyone that managed to get along to today's demo. In addition to the gorilla and dalek who made repeat appearances, we had a pirate, a rabbit and Tubbs from A League of Gentlemen. Most amusing and very attention grabbing - a special thank you to everyone that dressed up!
Despite being told by the Nottingham Evening Post that they wouldn't cover us any further, they actually sent two people over and there was a small announcement in today's paper about the demo. We also had a mention on Trent radio and two freelance reporters - both accompanied Doreen Sim on her wheelchair accessibility test. If anyone knows of any other media coverage that I haven't mentioned here then please let me know.
Don't forget to check out the media and photo sections of this blog.
Wheelchair Accesibility Test:
I've sent a press release to the local media with the 'findings' of the wheelchair test to the Sherwood branch so hopefully this will be picked up. Essentially, Doreen's journey would be increased from 5 minutes each way to 20 minutes each way. She felt very tired, almost toppled at one junction, and wasn't able to enter the Post Office at the end of the journey due to the step. She also wouldn't be able to turn around inside even if she could get in. As we've said before, we're not trying to criticise the facilities at Sherwood, but are trying to emphasise what the real impact on existing customers of Carrington will be, and it's a simple fact that it will be much, much harder and for some, impossible. Doreen said that she wouldn't have been able to make that journey once a week let alone twice a week [as she makes to Carrington PO], and what would she do when it was winter when it's wet and cold. A big thank you to Doreen for carrying out the test.
Disability Assessment Self-Audit:
We are also carrying out the self-audit disability assessment that the Royal Mail Group [which includes the Post Office] uses themselves. Thanks to Adam Blomerley for doing this assessment which found that the Sherwood branch didn't score very highly. We will also conduct this assessment for Carrington and Beech Avenue branches so that we can have some further hard evidence of how accessible Carrington Post Office is.
Council and Government Contact:
John Robinson's contact with Ken Clarke's office resulted in a polite, but very definite "keep to your own territory" response. Disappointing but not entirely surprising perhaps. We have nonetheless sent a very 'discreet' message of support for Melton Road.
Cllr Jane Urquhart made a brief appearance at today's demo as she was organising her husband's 40th surprise birthday and Cllr Tony Marshall [Lib Dem, Arboretum] also came along. Sadly there was no sign of John Heppell, MP.
I have ongoing contact with Jon Collins' secretary to try to get an official acknowlegment of support from the full council and answers to the questions that were raised at Thursday's meeting. The council has penned a letter that they will send to the Post Office and I have made recommendations for updates and additions regarding our Carrington branch. I am awaiting confirmation of whether or not these have / will be included. Sadly I have not been able to make direct contact with Cllr Collins however, his secretary has suggested that should we wish to meet him that we should book an appointment with him at next Tuesday's surgery in St Anns which runs from 10 to 11am. I am unable to make an appointment so if any of you are able please let me know and I will give you the telephone number to ring.
What's Next? The March to Deliver our Petition to John Heppell, MP
We are going to collate the petition on Monday and put together the final presentation copies together with 'supporting documents' which will include the media coverage that we are aware of, copies of some of the letters we have sent, copies of our own branch access report and disability access self-audit, a copy of the leaflets and a covering letter explaining what we have done in the campaign and why we are arguing against the closure.
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