Broughton Gifford Post Office - The Axe Falls

10.31.00pm GMT Fri 22nd Feb 2008

Marchers set out through Broughton Gifford...

The Post Office have announced their decision to close Broughton Gifford Post Office.

...a diminished band take their chance with the traffic on the main road into Holt...

Here is their statement:

...and the survivors celebrate at Holt Post Office.

"Respondents' main concerns were over the impact on the community, in particular the elderly, the

distance to alternative branches and the perceived lack of public transport.

Post Office Ltd has considered all the responses and a review of the proposal has been conducted.

Customer numbers at this branch are relatively low and the limited retail on offer in the community

indicates that people are already accessing services outside of the village for their shopping needs.

This is reflected by relatively high car ownership within this community. The nearest alternative

branch at Holt has free parking facilities outside the branch with additional on road parking available

as well as improved access and longer opening hours. There is also a direct bus service to this branch.

Taking these and all other relevant factors into account the decision is to proceed with the closure of

Post Office® Broughton Gifford branch."

This follows a strong campaign led by the parish council and local residents. Thanks to all involved in this. As someone said, "'tis better to have fought and lost, than never to have fought at all."

Parish and District councillors together with local people staged a walk from Broughton Gifford Post Office to what the PO claims is an accessible alternative at Holt. The two-mile 45-minute walk, at times on busy roads with no pavement, is what any Broughton Gifford resident without a car should, according to the experts in the Post Office hierarchy, be able to do without any difficulty.

The walk was intended to demonstrate the weakness of this argument. Unfortunately the PO bureaucrats weren't brave enough to come to Broughton Gifford, though a representative of Postwatch was there.

Here's my input to the consultation:

To - Tim Nickolls, Network Development Manager

Dear Mr Nickolls

I wish to object to the proposed closure of Broughton Gifford Post Office for the following reasons:

1. Accessibility of alternatives: The nearest alternative Post Office, at Holt, is not easily accessible on foot. Much of the journey is on narrow roads with no pavement, including along the B3107 which is unrestricted in terms of speed limit, carrying fast traffic with little space for pedestrians to avoid vehicles. The route is also subject to flooding near the church at ST 878631, when it becomes completely impassable to pedestrians. Although there is a bus service to Holt, anyone travelling specifically to the Post Office might have a considerable wait before the return journey.

Similar points apply to other Post Offices in the district - none are safely accessible on foot and all involve a time-consuming and inconvenient expedition by bus.

2. The present service only operates for 6 hours per week. Broughton Gifford is not a large village and this service is well adapted to the needs of the population. A high proportion of villagers are elderly or retired. Many would suffer inconvenience and social deprivation if the service were removed. The current arrangement is a cost-effective way of providing the required service.

3. The strength of the response from the local community demonstrates the importance of the Post Office to the village, and I fully support the detailed submission you've received from the parish council.

Yours sincerely

Trevor Carbin

West Wilts District Councillor for Broughton Gifford.