Post office accused of getting its facts wrong (From Cotswold Journal)

Post office accused of getting its facts wrong

11:11am Thursday 17th July 2008

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VILLAGERS have accused Post Office Ltd chiefs of getting their facts wrong when proposing the closure of Long Compton's branch.

Long Compton residents made the accusation when forming a group tasked with saving the service, one of three village post offices in the nearby area earmarked for closure - the others are at Brailes and Ilmington.

The service at Long Compton Post Office and Stores and the other branches would be replaced with outreach services that would see mobile postal units visiting the villages.

With many sub-postmasters claiming their businesses have declined since they were no longer needed for pension payments, the company says replacing these three branches with outreach services is the best way to make them financially sustainable.

The company is spending six weeks consulting the public about its proposals before making its final decision.

At a packed public meeting, Long Compton residents unanimously condemned the proposal before forming the Save The Long Compton Post Office Task Force.

The group's spokesman said: "The villagers are particularly angry about the proposal because Post Office Ltd has got its facts wrong."

Villagers claim the company says Long Compton's population is 275 when it was known to have 750 residents two years ago, since when the number has grown.

They refute the company's claim that the Red Lion pub is Long Compton's only retail outlet because the post office sells many goods and there is another shop selling meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.

Residents say the company is wrong when stating there is an hourly bus service to Chipping Norton because buses actually run twice daily and people who catch the first one must wait five hours for the return bus.

Jane Thomas, the company's spokesperson, said: "We welcome the feedback from the people in Long Compton. This is precisely the purpose of public consultation. The information will be checked."

She urged the villagers to submit their objections by August 4, either by emailing consultation@postoffice.co.uk or writing to Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team.

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