Post offices axed this Christmas

To most people the post office immediately brings the image of stamps, to others it’s a place to send a parcel; and to some it’s a place to collect pension. Undoubtedly the post office plays the most important role for the older people: for them the post office is a place to go, get connected to the world they otherwise feel disconnected from - and not to mention catch up on the local gossip.

Sadly the this multi-faceted enterprise is nearing extinction, especially in Wales. Particularly at a time like Christmas it seems very inopportune, especially for the few people left, who do send cards.

Inconsistent with the image portrayed by the government, of desolate post offices, the post office on Salisbury road was bustling with activity. The sub-postmistress, Mrs Akbar, did not seem to have a second to spare. She said” It’s the Christmas rush, it’s so busy now.”

Mr Phillips (68) a customer at the Salisbury Post office was busy searching for the perfect Christmas card. He said “I’ve come here to send Christmas cards to my children. It’s also a good excuse for a walk.” Mr Phillips is not alone. In a poll conducted by the BBC, several older people claimed having a post office close to their house was almost a necessity. Mrs Akbar agreed “This where pensioners meet to get their pension and benefits.” Since a lot of older people do not drive, the proximity of the post office is important. Going to the nearest town for their pension, by bus, does not seem like an easy option for them.

However the government does not seem to be relenting in its pursuit to shut down the unprofitable enterprises. In the last four years the government has shut down 2000 post offices. Rural Wales was the hardest hit. Mike German, leader of the assembly Liberal Democrats, said that if action was not taken between 60 to 80 per cent of post offices in Wales could close down.

This is worrying for the people running the post office. Mrs Akbar did not know whether her post office was one of the many to be shut down, she had not been informed.
She however seemed very pragmatic about it “There is no rush, once the government does decide which post offices to close, it will take at least a couple of years for it to happen. There is a lot of red tape involved.”

Once your favourite post office is shut, it does not mean it’s the end of the community as you knew it. There are ways the community can go about saving their local post office: it would involve a lot of effort on the part of the community. A successful attempt to reopen a post office by the community was the post office in Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire. It reopened in time for Christmas to stamp the post with its famous biblical stamp. (491 words)