Petitions
Monday 6 October 2008
Petition presented to the House but not read on the Floor
Planning and Development (Hampshire)
The Petition of the Bordon for Option 1 Group
Declares that the Whitehill/Bordon Opportunity Town Enlargement and/or Bordon Eco-Town Development expansion proposals are not appropriate to the character of this small country town. Because of the size of the proposed town enlargement it will have an excessive and undesirable impact on the surrounding areas. The Petitioners respectfully ask that the currently proposed over-development plan for Bordon be stopped. This small town and its surroundings contain characteristics and important heathland and other biodiversity rich habitats, which will be lost or substantially damaged, even if they are mitigated for, by these development proposals and options.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to limit the expansion of the town at Whitehill/Bordon to no more than 2000 houses and associated infrastructure: and to insist that the proposed town expansion should be situated only on the future brownfield sites that are currently barracks, which are to be vacated by the MOD in the town.
And the Petitioners remain, etc. [P000270]
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Post Office Closures (Essex)
The Humble Petition of the customers of 553 London Road Post Office, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 9LJ and others,
That said Post Office is widely used by the residents of Southend West and is a vital resource for our community of inestimable value to its elderly and most vulnerable constituents.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House do request that the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform instruct the Chief Executive of the Royal Mail Group to keep 553 London Road Post Office open.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. —[Presented by Mr. David Amess , Official Report, 21 July 2008; Vol. 479, c. 622 .] [P000255]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, received 6 August 2008:
The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the
whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.
In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced in May 2007 confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.
The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Post Office Limited (POL) announced on 9 April that it will extend Outreach trials into urban areas which, if successful, could mean additional Outreach branches over and above the 500 originally planned. Nevertheless, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.
POL is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies. The first area plans went out to local consultation on 2 October last year and these plans will continue to be rolled out at regular intervals until August, with the whole programme scheduled to take around 15 months to complete. The consultation period for East Essex and Suffolk has ended and POL has published its Area Plan Decision Booklet. Having considered all representations and the criteria for the network change programme POL have confirmed that the London Road Post Office is to close. Details will be made available on the POL website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.
POL develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also required to consider the availability of public transport and alternative access to key post office services, local demographics and the impact on the local economy. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.
The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices. No decisions on individual Post Offices are taken until after local consultations. Those decisions are made by POL in light of the responses to the consultation while subject to a four-stage appeals process involving Postwatch. The Review Process for closure decisions after public consultation process applies where Postwatch shows that, for an individual branch:
POL has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or;
where evidence emerges from the consultation that the proposal for the branch does not meet the Government’s policy requirements.
The aim of the further review process is for POL and Postwatch to reach an agreed way forward by bilateral review with 3 stages available at increasing levels of seniority. An addition to the review process last November provides that for very difficult cases which remain unresolved after stage 3, Allan Leighton, Chairman of Royal Mail Group will review the issues and reach a final decision.
Post Office Closures (Halifax)
The Petition of those opposed to the decision to close Holmfield Post Office,
Declares that they do not believe that the Post Office has given consideration to the range of customers using this branch and the impact of its closure on the community; a large proportion of customers will find it difficult to travel to the suggested alternatives. Further declares that the Holmfield Community is also growing rapidly with a high number of new businesses moving into the areas and current businesses expanding. This they are sure will guarantee the viability of this branch for many years to come.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory reform to instruct Post Office Ltd. to keep Holmfield Post Office open.
And the Petitioners remain, etc. —[Presented by Mrs. Linda Riordan , Official Report, 21 July 2008; Vol. 479, c. 621 .] [P000246]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, received 11 September 2008:
The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.
In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced in May 2007 confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services.
The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Post Office Limited (POL) announced on 9 April that it will extend Outreach trials into urban areas which, if successful, could mean additional Outreach branches over and above the 500 originally planned. Nevertheless, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.
POL is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary
constituencies. The first area plans went out to local consultation on 2 October last year and these plans will continue to be rolled out at regular intervals until August, with the whole programme scheduled to take around 15 months to complete. POL has announced final decisions for the West Yorkshire area plan. Having considered all representations and the criteria for the network change programme POL has confirmed that Holmfield Post Office is to close. Details of the closures are available on the POL website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.
POL develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also required to consider the availability of public transport and alternative access to key post office services, local demographics and the impact on the local economy. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.
The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices. No decisions on individual Post Offices are taken until after local consultations. Those decisions are made by POL in light of the responses to the consultation while subject to a four-stage appeals process involving Postwatch. The Review Process for closure decisions after public consultation process applies where Postwatch shows that, for an individual branch:
POL has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or;
where evidence emerges from the consultation that the proposal for the branch does not meet the Government’s policy requirements.
The aim of the further review process is for POL and Postwatch to reach an agreed way forward by bilateral review with 3 stages available at increasing levels of seniority. An addition to the review process last November provides that for very difficult cases which remain unresolved after stage 3, Allan Leighton, Chairman of Royal Mail Group will review the issues and reach a final decision.
Post Office Closures (Merseyside)
The Petition of Birkenhead consitituents opposed to Post Office closure,
Declares that Holt Hill Post Office should remain open.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Business and Enterprise to keep Holt Hill Post Office open, as losing a local Post Office will be a detrimental loss when no other alternative is presented.
And the Petitioners remain, etc. —[Presented by Mr. Frank Field , Official Report, 22 July 2008; Vol. 479, c. 24P .] [P000266]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, received 11 September 2008:
The Government fully recognises the important social and economic role of post offices, particularly in rural and deprived urban communities. That is why it is determined to maintain a national post office network
allowing people to have reasonable access across the whole country and has put in place a new policy and financial framework to achieve this. The Government has been investing substantial sums in the post office network, totalling £2 billion since 1999. That has, for example, paid for a computer link-up for every post office as well as support for non-commercial branches since 2003.
In its response to the consultation on the Post Office network the Government announced in May 2007 confirmation of its decision to extend funding of up to £1.7 billion to 2011, including provision of £150 million Social Network Payment to support the post office network up to 2011. The Government strategy includes provision for 2,500 compensated closures and 500 new Outreach services. The General Secretary of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters said at the start of the change programme: “Although regrettable we believe that closures are necessary to ensure the remaining post offices are able to thrive in the future”.
The 500 new and innovative Outreach locations, operated in partnership with other local services such as in pubs, village halls, churches or in mobile post offices, will mitigate closures, primarily in smaller and more remote communities. Post Office Limited (POL) announced on 9 April that it will extend Outreach trials into urban areas which, if successful, could mean additional Outreach branches over and above the 500 originally planned. Nevertheless, there will need to be up to 2,500 compensated post office closures within the defined access criteria.
POL is responsible for implementing the network change programme at a local level. It is developing a rolling programme of some 50 local consultations on detailed area plans, based on groups of Parliamentary constituencies. The first area plans went out to local consultation on 2 October last year and these plans will continue to be rolled out at regular intervals until August, with the whole programme scheduled to take around 15 months to complete. The consultation period for Merseyside finished on 17 December. Having considered all representations and the criteria for the network change programme POL have confirmed the proposed closure of Holt Hill Post Office. Details of the closures and any further reviews are available on the POL website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange.
POL develops its proposals with the participation of sub-postmasters, local authorities and the consumer watchdog, Postwatch, and takes into account the numeric access criteria set out by Government as well as local factors affecting ease of access, such as local geography: rivers, mountains etc when drawing up its implementation plans. POL is also required to consider the availability of public transport and alternative access to key post office services, local demographics and the impact on the local economy. Local consultations provide the opportunity to raise any specific concerns over particular proposals.
The Government does not have a role in proposals or decisions for individual post offices. No decisions on individual Post Offices are taken until after local consultations. Those decisions are made by POL in light of the responses to the consultation while subject to a four-stage appeals process involving Postwatch. The Review Process for closure decisions after public consultation process applies where Postwatch shows that, for an individual branch:
POL has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or;
where evidence emerges from the consultation that the proposal for the branch does not meet the Government’s policy requirements.
The aim of the further review process is for POL and Postwatch to reach an agreed way forward by bilateral review with 3 stages available at increasing levels of seniority. An addition to the review process last November provides that for very difficult cases which remain unresolved after stage 3, Allan Leighton, Chairman of Royal Mail Group will review the issues and reach a final decision.
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