Town with no Post Office.

garinda · 25-09-2006, 19:07

Having just returned fron sunnier climes, I was sad to learn that Ossy's last remaining, of the three original Post Offices, is due to close down soon.

Moor End Post Office is to close, and a counter service will be available instore at the Co-op.

The word on the street says that the news was announced too late for last week's Observer, but was in the Telegraph.

Can anyone shed anymore light on this sad story?

mthead · 25-09-2006, 20:00

Is that one over west-end not still open Rindy?or is that one closed down too?

WillowTheWhisp · 25-09-2006, 20:06

How was the holiday Rindykins?

What the heck are they playing at with Post Offices? Even the one on Abbey Street is under threat of downgrading. In a bit we'll have to go to Blackburn to post a letter!

garinda · 25-09-2006, 23:35

You may be right Mthead, there may still be one in the West End, but that's not really very handy for any pensioner who lives in the centre of Ossy.

Incidentally, the main Ossy Post Office was opened as an opticains after its closure, by Britcliffe chum Kevin Horkins, which lasted about six months after being launched in a blaze of publicity, and now sadly still stands empty.

Stanhill P.O. (home of Spinning Jenny inventor James Hargreaes), closed in the 90's.

As for the changes brought about to the main P.O. in Accrington, its good to see Greg Pope, amongst others, fighting the proposed closure and job losses.

The holiday was wonderful by the way, a real tonic.
Swimming in the balmy Agean Sea every day helped by condition tremendously...and I'm trying to have it added to my prescription.

Gayle · 26-09-2006, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Incidentally, the main Ossy Post Office was opened as an opticains after its closure, by Britcliffe chum Kevin Horkins, which lasted about six months after being launched in a blaze of publicity, and now sadly still stands empty.

It lasted less than six weeks - it was opened in Nov and closed by Christmas.!!!!

Whilst I'm obviously unhappy about the loss of a post office in Ossy, if the services are catered for elsewhere I guess there isn't too much of a problem (as long as it is totally catered for and we don't have a drop in service - most likely to be the case). My main concern is the fact that we'll have another empty shop. When I did my Talking Shop thing the same things kept cropping up time and time again - a town full of kebab shops and hairdressers; no future for the town; my regular customers are older people.

The last one is the key really. If all the regular customers to local shops are older people (time on their hands and live local in condensed terraced houses) then the sad fact is that the local shopper is a dying breed.

Neil · 26-09-2006, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

The last one is the key really. If all the regular customers to local shops are older people (time on their hands and live local in condensed terraced houses) then the sad fact is that the local shopper is a dying breed.

Why is that the case Gayle? We are all getting older.

garinda · 26-09-2006, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Why is that the case Gayle? We are all getting older.

A lot of the older shoppers who live locally to the shops don't drive. They are the ones that popped to the shops every day, didn't go to the supermarket once a week, and kept the smaller shops going.

I think the government always planned to close and downgrade Post Offices, when they encouraged pensions and benefits to be paid directly into people's bank accounts.

You can't even renew your tv licence at the P.O. anymore, you have to go to as participating supermarker or garage.

Gayle · 26-09-2006, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Why is that the case Gayle? We are all getting older.

I think it's because we, and people ten or twenty years older than us are a 'car' generation. The current 'old' people are not! So yes, in theory there should be new old people coming along to replenish the stock but in reality they have different way of shopping.

Neil · 26-09-2006, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

I think it's because we, and people ten or twenty years older than us are a 'car' generation.

I hope that 'wee' was aimed at you and RindyRoo

If you are including me then you meant 15 to 25 years older than us

You are of course correct. I suppose only time will tell if we start to shop more locally as we get older. Maybe we will prefer quality over price and decide on the local butcher not Asda.

Gayle · 26-09-2006, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

I hope that 'wee' was aimed at you and RindyRoo

If you are including me then you meant 15 to 25 years older than us

No, I was including you in the 'we'. I didn't know how old you were but guessed you were the same age as me and Rindy - well you look it anyway.