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.