Sponsored by
'Campaigners victimised' in PO shutdowns
POST Office bosses have been accused of "victimising" campaigners by closing their local branches.
The council is negotiating with the Post Office about keeping open eight to 10 of the 15 branches due to close.
But the Post Office is determined to push ahead with closing those at Loxley, Derbyshire Lane, Silverhill at Ecclesall, Deepcar and Grimesthorpe.
The Post Office says it will not discuss these branches and there is no appeal process.
Sheffield Communities Against Post Office Closures says those five branches were had the biggest campaigns and they feel local residents are being penalised for their protests.
Alistair Trice of SCAPOC told a Town Hall meeting: "We are disgusted, if not surprised by Post Office Ltd's sham consultation process.
"Loxley was the first branch to start a campaign while Derbyshire Lane had the most active campaign. The campaign at Silverhill collected 4,500 signatures, which was the most for any post office in the city, and Deepcar and Grimes-thorpe also campaigned.
"Half of the total 20,000 signatures collected were from the post offices they are not prepared to negotiate on. We believe these local residents are being victimised for having the audacity to stand up to Post Office bosses."
Post Office Ltd says keeping those five open would affect the viability of other branches in the area.
But council leader Coun Paul Scriven said: "This council fought to save all the post offices, but unfortunately we don't make the final decision.
"The cards are stacked in Post Office Ltd's favour as they decide which ones to enter into negotiations about.
"They will not negotiate on these five and there is no appeal process. They won't even discuss them."
Coun Scriven says he now wants cross-party support to try to retain the other branches.
He added: "It will not be easy and I don't have a magic wand but I am prepared to put party politics aside to see what we can do to save them."
READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
