Save Carrington Post Office

The fight continues in 2009

2009-05-29T10:39:00.003+01:00

While there haven't been any new posts on this blog for quite a while, the campaign is still going strong. A new campaign website is being built which will contain all the information you need to get involved with the campaign to save Carrington and New Lenton Post Offices.

In the meantime, we are meeting every Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Ukranian Centre on the corner of Watcombe Road and Mansfield Road in Carrington. Please feel free to pop along to as many of the meetings as you can to find out the lastest news, campaign activity and to share your suggestions and ideas.

If you would have any questions, or would like to be signed up to the email group, please contanct bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk.

Recent Nottingham Evening Post Coverage

2008-11-05T16:42:00.003Z

An article about the impact the closure of Carrington Post Office has had on the local community can be viewed here: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Council-act-city-post-offices-campaigners/article-446199-detail/article.html

A letter about the campaign still going strong after a year of campaigning: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Letter-Save-Notts-Post-Offices/article-415897-detail/article.html

Two short items about the recent demonstration outside the Council House: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/BRING-POST-OFFICES-APPEAL/article-403773-detail/article.html
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Post-Office-campaigners-protest-Council-House/article-402744-detail/article.html

A letter hoping that Nottingham City Council will find a way to reopen the Post Offices:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Letter-Fighting-Post-Offices/article-357783-detail/article.html

An article about PostWatch's promise to assess disabled access at Sherwood Post Office - something that we don't think has been done!
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/PostWatch-assess-disabled-access-Sherwood-Post-Office/article-356528-detail/article.html

Council Progress Update Meeting - Wed 12 November 2008

2008-11-05T16:37:00.002Z

Nottingham City Council Leader, Jon Collins, and the consultant hired to look into reopening Carrington and New Lenton Post Offices, Cheryl Cooper, will join next week's weekly campaign meeting to update us on the progress they have made so far. The campaigners meet every Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Ukranian Centre on Mansfield Road, Carrington. Lifts can be arranged by emailing bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk or calling 07801 737445.

Please come along to the meeting if you have been affected by the closures and would like to show your support.

Council House Demo Video of Councillor Jon Collins

2008-11-05T13:37:00.004Z

Following a successful demo outside the council house which attracted over 70 protestors, here is a video of Nottingham City Council Leader, Jon Collins, talking about Carrington and New Lenton Post Offices

Demonstration outside Council House in Market Square - 15 October 2008

2008-10-10T12:00:00.001+01:00

It's been a while since my last post, so you may think that things have gone quiet on the Post Office campaign front over the Summer holiday period. But, many of us are still meeting every Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Ukranian Centre on Mansfield Road and we have been working with the consultant that the Council has hired to look into the feasibility of reopening the Post Offices.

And we are now going to hold a demonstration outside the Council House to hand over the petition, show our support for the Council's investigations into reopening the Post Offices, and to show what strong community support there still is for Carrington and New Lenton Post Offices. We must keep the pressure up if we want to get our Post Offices back!

The demo will start at 2.30pm on Wednesday 15 October outside the Council House in Market Square [by the lions].

With the Pensioner's Action Group and Nottingham University's Student Union joining us, this demo promises to be our biggest yet so please do try to come along and show your support. If you are able to, please bring along your own placcards and any spare ones that others could use. The aim of the demo is to encourage the Council to do as much as they can and as quickly as possible to reopen our Post Offices.

We are having a planning meeting on Tuesday 14 October at 7.30pm at the Ukranian Centre - please try to attend if you are able to.

Public Meeting - 15 April 2008

2008-04-15T12:22:00.000+01:00

A second Public Meeting will be held where the Council will update the concerned supporters of Carrington and New Lenton Post Offices on the progress made since the first meeting on 18 March.

Public Meeting at 7.30pm Tuesday 15 April
St John’s Church, Carrington

Transport to/from New Lenton will be available. Please call 0115 985 7330 and leave your name, number, location and details of any mobility issues and you will be called back.

Rob Wadsworth, Council representative appointed to working with the Post Office campaigners and a representative for Alan Simpson, MP Nottingham South have confirmed attendance, while Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council and the relevant local Councillors have also been invited.

It is vital that we keep up the pressure on Post Office Ltd and the Council so please come along and show your support for our Post Offices.

Nottingham City Council’s Position

On 18 March, Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council addressed over 120 campaigners at St John’s Church, Carrington and promised to:

· Continue to oppose the closures and explore ways to maintain viability.
· Lobby Post Office Ltd to enter into dialogue with Nottingham City Council and prevent physical decommissioning of the branches.
· Work with the campaigners to see what the options are
· Personally look at options other Council’s are taking and assess their practicality for Nottingham.
· Talk with Phil Hope, Minister for the East Midlands, and local MPs.
· Research any applicable policies and funding and provide info on these to the campaign.
· Consider the possibility of providing a guarantee or bond of some kind, but not a subsidy nor upfront financial commitment to look at the accounts.

He agreed to be judged based on the number of local MPs that vote to suspend the closure programme and on the progress made within one month [between the first Public Meeting and this one].

Rob Wadsworth, Business Growth Manager, Economic Development Team was appointed as the Council’s main contact for the campaign and has subsequently met with some campaigners to discuss ways forward. The upshot of these will be communicated during the Public Meeting.

Please turn over…Please show your support for our Post Offices at at a Public Meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 15 April at St Johns Church, Carrington.

Please lobby Nottingham City Council

2008-03-04T22:09:00.001Z

We learned at tonight's council surgery with Councillor Penny Griggs that Nottingham City Council is currently considering whether or not to launch a judicial review. WE URGENTLY NEED THE COUNCIL TO MAKE ITS DECISION AND AT THE VERY LEAST SEEK A STAY OF EXECUTION FOR CARRINGTON AND NEW LENTON BRANCHES SO THAT WE HAVE MORE TIME TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION.

New Lenton is due to close this Friday, while Carrington is due to close next Tuesday. The tide of opinion is turning against the Post Office Ltd and it's closure programme but we must stay in the game while this is debated and the only way we can do this is with the full support and backing of Nottingham City Council.

Please urgently pick up the phone and/or email the three contacts below who are all key influencers in the council's decision. Essex, Lincolnshire and Kent County Councils are all launching judicial reviews so why not Nottingham which has been the worst hit?

Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration [apparently Alan has been tasked with making the decision]
T: 0115 915 5667
E: alan.clark@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council [and Carrington resident!]
T: 0115 915 5038/915 5636
E: jon.collins@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Michael Edwards, Deputy Leader of Nottingham City Council
T: 0115 915 5050
E: michael.edwards@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

WE NEED THE COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION AND ACT BEFORE FRIDAY! OR AT THE VERY LEAST OBTAIN AN INJUNCTION TO GET MORE TIME TO CONSIDER WHAT FURTHER ACTION TO TAKE.

Below are the key points from tonight's council surgery:

Judicial Review:
We strongly urged the council to launch a judicial review based on the unfair and irrational procedures and process enforced by Post Office Ltd. While we learned that the council is already considering whether or not to launch a judicial review, we only have days left before our branches close so the council absolutely has to make its decision by Thursday at the latest or at the very least obtain an injunction against the closures to obtain more time to consider this course of action.

Apparently the decision on whether or not to launch a judicial review has been referred to Alan Clark, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Regeneration, and our local councillors have lobbied for a judicial review. Councillor Griggs said that she had been told it was going to cost Essex around £1million to fund the branches so that they will remain open - this amount was queried and the Councillor said it was just a number that she had been told.

Councillor Griggs informed us that Jon Collins and Michael Edwards will also be influencial in the decision and gave us their contact details so that we can contact them directly to try to get a decision prior to the forthcoming closures. She agreed to contact Alan Clark, and Grant Butterworth, Head of Planning Transport and Intelligence Strategy and will get back in touch with us with any feedback / progress.

It was also discussed that the Council's legal department could get in touch with the campaign group to decide on which of the various arguments and information that we have gathered throughout the campaign would be relevant for a judicial review. Councillor Griggs said she would suggest this.

Thursday's Demo:
We informed Councillor Griggs about Thursday's demo outside the council house and she agreed that she would be present for it.
As a reminder to you, the demo begins at 11am at the lions outside the Council House in Market Square and aims to urge the council to launch a judicial review and obtain injunctions against the closures of Carrington and New Lenton branches.

Public Opinion:
We communicated our strong feelings of having been let down by our local councillors and John Heppell MP who have, at best, been on the peripherary of the campaign and have not provided the support and backing that other constituencies have received in their campaigns.

Despite the communities of Carrington, Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise, the Arboretum and Sherwood uniting to show their support of Carrington Post Office, many of the councillors for these areas have not even shown their faces at any of the weekly meetings let alone kept up to date with the campaign and the wishes of their constituents. Now New Lenton and Carrington branches have joined forces to try to get Nottingham City Council to understand that they have their part to play in what is quickly becoming a regional part of a national campaign. This really is the council's last chance to act and they have to do it by Thursday!

Carrington and New Lenton Joint Demonstration - Thurs 6 Mar

2008-03-04T21:56:00.004Z

Carrington and New Lenton Post Office campaigners are staging a joint demonstration at 11am this Thursday 6 March meeting outside the lions in Market Square.

Our key aims for this demo are to get the local council to be more proactive by launching a judicial review and getting an injunction to prevent Carrington and New Lenton branches from closing [New Lenton is due to close this Friday, while Carrington is due to close next Tuesday]. Essex, Lincolnshire and Kent county councils are all launching judicial reviews while Nottingham City Council is still debating what to do - we simply don't have time to delay any longer and MUST ACT NOW!

The demonstration will also march to the Government's Office for the East Midlands in Talbot Street and present oversized letters to a representative [if they deign to come out!] asking for a judicial review and a meeting with Phil Hope, the new Minister for the East Midlands - he has so far declined our invitations.

Please try to come along as we need as many people there as possible, and bring a friend!
We're asking everyone to dress in black as we're going for a 'funeral' theme and please try to make one or two placcards and oversized letters to bring with you. Here is an example of an oversized letter, which would make a great media photo opportunity if we were to have many to hand over:

We're also keen for any customers that have mobility issues to attend if they are able as these are the people that will be most affected by the closures, so please invite anyone that you may know who might be interested in attending.

Weekly Meetings

2008-02-25T13:45:00.003Z

The Save Carrington Post Office campaign continues! Apologies for the lapse in news. It's not that we've been inactive, quite the opposite!

We are currently holding weekly meetings every Monday night from 7pm at the Ukranian Centre on the corner of Mansfield Road and Watcombe Road. Please feel free to join us if you can [you need to ring the door bell to be let in].

A copy of the weekly meeting notes can be viewed at Carrington Post Office, or emailed to you.

I had three very interesting conversations this week that I thought I would share with you all.

The first was with Grant Butterworth, who is the Head of Planning, Transport and Intelligence Strategy. He is the signatory of the two letters from the City Council to Post Office Ltd arguing for the the four branches in their constituency. Having heard that Essex County Council has succeeded in getting Post Office Ltd to open its books on the Essex branches, and that they are exploring alternative funding methods that may keep their branches open, we thought we'd find out what Nottingham City Council proposes to do next. Apparently there is due to be a meeting with Ken Clarke this very afternoon to discuss what can be done. Grant feels that any possibilities regarding alternative funding is out of his remit and would be more suitable with someone in planning.

We feel very strongly that Nottingham City Council must do everything that is within its power to fight for our Post Offices and should follow the example of Essex County Council in getting the Post Office Ltd to open it's books on the Nottingham branches, allowing us to make a business case against the closures, and should consider alternative funding options.

The other two telephone calls were with campaigners for Rippingale in Lincolnshire. This group has been very active and thanks to their own efforts and those of Quentin Davies, their Labour MP, have had unprecedented access to the senior management of Post Office Ltd, including Mark Partington, Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd and Sue Higgins, the Head of Network Change. The key message to have come from these meetings is that 'viable alternative solutions' will be considered. Of course, 'viable' could mean almost anything, but it's very interesting to know that this approach could be worthwhile.

Meanwhile, Lincolnshire and Kent County Councils are considering launching a joint judicial review to split the costs.

This just goes to show what can be achieved with the full support of your local councillors and MP.

Another bit of interesting news is that Rippingale is teaming up with other campaign groups to form a national campaign group, CAPOC (Communities Against Post Office Closures). A campaign website will be launched later this week. We've already signed up Carrington Post Office for this and I'll post the website address once the site has been launched.

Carrington Post Office to Close - the fight continues

2007-12-11T19:18:00.001Z

It is with great frustration that I must today announce that Carrington Post Office is still up for closure.

The many residents of Carrington, Mapperley Park, Sherwood Rise and the Arboretum that have fought long and hard during the so-called 'public consultation' strongly believe that the closure of this Post Office does not meet the Government's minimum access criteria nor does the closure of this popular and profitable post office serve the overall aim of creating a sustainable network.

Thus far, there has been no response from Post Office Ltd to any of the issues raised nor the questions asked of them. The definition of a 'consultation' is an 'exchange of views' or a 'discussion' yet so far this has not happened.

We do not intend to stop fighting - in fact, if anything this news has merely strengthened our belief that the public consultation was simply a political exercise, and our resolve that we will not give up!

We aim to pursue three main courses of action:
1. to bring about a meeting between Post Office Ltd and the local community to have a genuine public consultation
2. to hold a meeting with the relevant local councillors and John Heppell, MP to discuss how their influence may best be put to use - Beech Avenue [2 years ago] and Melton Road appear to have been saved through the direct actions of their local MPs and councillors
3. to pursue legal avenues

For anyone that wishes to help, please get in touch with bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk.

Decision time

2007-12-03T22:32:00.000Z

Well, after several delays, the latest is that we should have a public announcement of a decision on Tuesday 11 December.

Apparently, although I haven't been able to confirm this, there are two POs in Derbyshire that have been saved. This is good news for us in that it shows that Post Office Ltd are willing to overturn the decision on some branches, and we wish to extend our congratulations to those branches.

Lets keep our fingers crossed for Carrington!

Annndd, also keep Fri 21 Dec free in your diary as we have provisionally booked this day as a celebratory [or perhaps commiseratory, but lets stay optimisitic!] party upstairs at the Gladstone. If you are able to come along please let me know so I can inform them of numbers...and also please let me know if you can bring along some food?

East Midlands Today Coverage

2007-11-20T16:44:00.000Z

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.

Carrington Residents' Association

2007-11-07T18:37:00.000Z

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.

March to MPs office at 2pm Friday 9 November

2007-11-07T18:25:00.000Z

Save Carrington Post Office
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

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.

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

Write to:

Postwatch Midlands

c/o Regional support team
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

John Heppell MP
The House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
johnheppellmp@yahoo.co.uk

Jane Urguhart
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

For further info re the campaign contact:
bekianderson@yahoo.co.uk 07801 737445

Help needed - marching band

2007-11-07T15:24:00.000Z

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

What can I do to help?

2007-11-07T15:13:00.000Z

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

Why Save Carrington Post Office?

2007-11-07T14:57:00.000Z

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.

What's Next?

2007-11-07T14:36:00.000Z

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

Our Campaign Aims & Achievements

2007-11-07T14:23:00.000Z

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

And here is what we have achieved in just four weeks:

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

...and we're not finished yet! One week to go till 12 November deadline

Photos

2007-11-07T13:17:00.000Z

Sat 3 November Wheelchair Accessibility Test with Doreen Sim:

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

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

John Heppel's Visit and Impromptu Demo

Latest News & Updates

2007-11-07T12:38:00.000Z

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.

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.