Post Office Closure

WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
Clerk to the Council: Mrs P A Cavill
Hill Farm
West Monkton
Taunton TA2 8LP
Somerset

Network Development Manager
Post Office Ltd
c/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

27TH February 2008

Dear Sir/Madam

I write with reference to the proposed closure of West Monkton Post Office.

The Parish Council acknowledge this is a small branch. However, it believes there are special reasons why this particular Post Office should be kept open.

Although small, it is busy and well used, not only by residents but by local businesses in the Parish.

West Monkton is a Conservation Area; the Post Office is located in The Street which runs through the centre of the village. There has been a trading outlet of one form or another in the exact location of the Post Office for well over one hundred years. Like many rural locations - if you close the Post Office, the shop will become unsustainable and will close. Therefore you will be responsible for closing the door on a long history of trading in the area.

The Parish of West Monkton comprises circa 1200 houses. This will shortly change as a new mixed use development is currently going through application with the Local Planning Authority (Taunton Deane Borough Council). The proposal will be approved in the very near future because the government has decreed that 900 houses will be built on the proposed site. Thus the Parish will be almost doubled in size, and this work will start within the next 12 months. The Regional Spatial Strategy of the Regional Assembly has decreed that by 2026 a further 4000 houses will be built within the Parish. Thus, closing the Post Office seems somewhat premature.

In the leaflet entitled ‘Post Office Network Change Programme’ it is stated that ‘…we will take into account the terrain and consider the availability of public transport and other factors that could affect access…’ In the leaflet entitled ‘Proposed Branch Closure’ details of the nearby branches are given and the Transport details for both Creech St Michael and Roman Road read thus: for Creech St Michael ‘…There is no direct bus service available between the two branches. This branch is located 2.1 miles away from West Monkton branch along hilly terrain. And for Roman Road ‘…There is no direct bus service available between the two branches. This branch is located 2.7 miles away from West Monkton, along hilly terrain’. The Parish Council urges you to act by your own stated actions, and consider very carefully the damage that would be done to the community of West Monkton Parish if you close this Post Office.

There is no other trading outlet in the village of West Monkton - only a pub and the Church. The Parish Council would therefore ask you to consider two further options. If the Post Office in The Street is to be closed, please would you consider opening a branch in the proposed Local Centre within the new development - possibly to be run by the existing Post Master who has been 24 years in the village Post Office.

If that is not acceptable, then would you please consider putting in place Outreach services as described in the leaflet? The Street regularly hosts the Library Van run by Somerset County Council and perhaps the Post Office could provide a similar service, particularly for the many residents unable to reach either Creech St Michael or Roman Road.

The Parish Council consider that the decision to close West Monkton Post Office, particularly so close to the huge expansion the Parish will be seeing within the next 12 months, is ill-advised short-sighted and to the detriment of the widespread rural community.

The Parish Council would be very grateful if you would re-consider the decision to close West Monkton Post Office in the light of the information provided in this letter.


Yours sincerely



Tricia Cavill
Clerk