I WENT to a public meeting regarding the closure of Derbyshire Lane Post Office. A good turn out but, I have to say, mostly older people. They were worried about their community post office and if it closed what it would mean to their community. A selfish attitude, you may say, but is it?
Couples with young families with little or no money wonder how they are going to get through the next day. Professional couples jiggling their finances, trying to stay one step ahead of the credit crunch. They have a lot to think about, so the closur
e of a post office is not always at the top of their ‘To Do List.’
So that leaves us (I’m an OAP) and, of course, the disturbing thing about us is that we have long memories. For instance, we can remember when we voted someone into power, be it local or national, they knew what we had voted them in for and woe betide them if they didn’t do it.
When we mention this, we are shushed and told to get Sky TV to keep us occupied.
I couldn’t sleep. Why couldn’t I sleep? Because of three comments made from a representative from Post Offices UK.
1. That petitions didn’t matter - 40 signatures or 4,000 - all the same to them.
2. That a man, it is rumoured, would get £1 million as a bonus if he closed the post offices on time.
3. That he told us if we managed to save Derbyshire Lane, another post office would take our place.
Does anyone remember the film 1984? Don’t do it to me, do it to my loved one. How has this happened to us?
I would like to leave you with one last thought: the Roman Empire, possibly the greatest empire of all times, was never beaten on the field of battle. No, its end was far sadder than that, it decayed from within.
Diana Stimely, Hemsworth Road, Sheffield S8.
The full article contains 340 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
