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New post office given cautious welcome
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| Post Office regional manager Ian Rowe and WH Smith South West regional director Kevin Hall pictured at the opening of the post office |
THE post bank holiday crush saw Swindon's new post office face its first hurdle.
Most customers seemed to think the post office, inside WH Smith in Regent Street, coped well, with enough staff to keep the queues flowing smoothly.
But some customers were less than impressed by the sight of long queues so soon after the grand opening.
Steve Johns, 42, from Drove Road, said: "It took about 10 minutes which is better than you'd expect for lunchtime after a bank holiday.
"There's enough staff to satisfy demand - I've got no complaints."
But Mary Parrish, 67, from central Swindon, was not willing to wait.
She said: "I just took one look at the queue and walked straight out. I dread to think what will happen when the queue from WHSmiths and the queue from the post office combine."
Tanya Bishop, 31, from Blunsdon, said: "I was a bit annoyed when I came in and saw a great big queue but actually it moved quickly and I was only in there for about 15 minutes."
Laura Pelland, 23, who works in Swindon, said: "The queue's not that bad - you always expect there to be one.
"I think the move was a good one - I like the layout of this place better than the old one."
The old Sanford Street post office closed on March 12, with the Regent Street branch opening the next day.
A post office spokesman said: "The bank holidays mean that Easter is always a busy time for post office branches and this can mean that unfortunately our customers may have to wait a little longer that usual.
"The new branch at Swindon is working well and the team are working hard to serve customers as quickly as possible.
"Feedback from customers so far has confirmed that the majority are happy with their new branch."
The future of post offices in Swindon has become a political hot potato in recent weeks, with Labour MPs and councillors attacking the council for its handling of the matter.
The Conservatives hit back by questioning MPs Anne Snelgrove and Michael Wills' decision to vote against a Tory motion to delay post office closures while other options are assessed.
Three post offices in Swindon are set to close - Westcott Place, Cheney Manor Road and Lawn.
2:00pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Peeved, Swindon on 3:03pm Wed 26 Mar 08
How strange! b-anne-dwaggon Snelgrove nowhere to be seen?
How strange! b-anne-dwaggon Snelgrove nowhere to be seen?
Posted by: emmylou83, Stratton on 3:08pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Whoever thought putting the Post Office inside Smiths was a good idea needs to be shot
Whoever thought putting the Post Office inside Smiths was a good idea needs to be shot
Posted by: desidna, swindon on 4:22pm Wed 26 Mar 08
[quote][bold]emmylou83[/bold] wrote:
Whoever thought putting the Post Office inside Smiths was a good idea needs to be shot[/quote] I agree!
emmylou83 wrote:
Whoever thought putting the Post Office inside Smiths was a good idea needs to be shot
I agree!
Posted by: The builder, Old Town on 4:55pm Wed 26 Mar 08
I wouldn't worry no doubt Anne Snelgrove MP and Michael Wills MP will soon be voting for its closure as well.
I wouldn't worry no doubt Anne Snelgrove MP and Michael Wills MP will soon be voting for its closure as well.
Posted by: Voice of Sanity, Swindon on 7:13pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Why do some people get off on constantly moaning about the smallest things? The queues were no smaller when the Post Office was in Sanford Road - they haven't suddenly increased overnight!
Why do some people get off on constantly moaning about the smallest things? The queues were no smaller when the Post Office was in Sanford Road - they haven't suddenly increased overnight!
Posted by: littlesister, Swindon on 7:14pm Wed 26 Mar 08
How will we post letters soon, if they keep closing them all?
and now that there are more postal services, ie TNT why don't they open post offices ?
How will we post letters soon, if they keep closing them all?
and now that there are more postal services, ie TNT why don't they open post offices ?
Posted by: paul_swindon on 11:06pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Anyone see Anne Snelgrove in the Adver today holding a banner "save our post office"? Unbelievable doesn't come close when she voted to close the post offices and then tried to blame the Council. How is the Post office anything to do with the Council? They should resign for sheer blatant lying to the public they are both a disgrace to decent people.
Anyone see Anne Snelgrove in the Adver today holding a banner "save our post office"? Unbelievable doesn't come close when she voted to close the post offices and then tried to blame the Council. How is the Post office anything to do with the Council? They should resign for sheer blatant lying to the public they are both a disgrace to decent people.
Posted by: doug@homefarm, SN1 on 10:01am Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]littlesister[/bold] wrote:
How will we post letters soon, if they keep closing them all? and now that there are more postal services, ie TNT why don't they open post offices ?[/quote] Principally because TNT is owned by Rupert Union Buster Murdoch who only operates for one thing, to make money.
TNT and the rest of the pariahs waiting in the wings have no desire to offer a ‘public service’. They will not open offices like the Post Office but in fact insist on using the existing PO infrastructure for their own gain and profit and won’t contribute to the overheads. They will only deliver mail to profitable areas and do sod all for the rural scene!
No different to BT in ’83 when Mercury were allowed by the Thatcher Government to connect up to BT’s grid, but not maintain it. Then the cow would not let BT cross subsidise its own businesses, and let it get completely shafted by the Mercury and their cohorts.
littlesister wrote:
How will we post letters soon, if they keep closing them all? and now that there are more postal services, ie TNT why don't they open post offices ?
Principally because TNT is owned by Rupert Union Buster Murdoch who only operates for one thing, to make money.
TNT and the rest of the pariahs waiting in the wings have no desire to offer a ‘public service’. They will not open offices like the Post Office but in fact insist on using the existing PO infrastructure for their own gain and profit and won’t contribute to the overheads. They will only deliver mail to profitable areas and do sod all for the rural scene!
No different to BT in ’83 when Mercury were allowed by the Thatcher Government to connect up to BT’s grid, but not maintain it. Then the cow would not let BT cross subsidise its own businesses, and let it get completely shafted by the Mercury and their cohorts.
Posted by: angry monkey, Swindon on 10:14am Thu 27 Mar 08
Thats right Doug. making money is bad.
Thats right Doug. making money is bad.
Posted by: doug@homefarm, SN1 on 11:27am Thu 27 Mar 08
No Monkey I didn't say that, in itself there is nothing wrong with making money within the system of society we live in, Murdoch and Co wish to take and give hnothing back, that's bad, Mercury wanted to leach off of the back of BT but BT was not allowed to compete fairly, that's bad.
If Murdoch wants to compete with the Post Ofice then he should do it fairly and the Post Office should in turn be allowed to compete fairly, and if that happens we will see how much money ther jackels make then!
No Monkey I didn't say that, in itself there is nothing wrong with making money within the system of society we live in, Murdoch and Co wish to take and give hnothing back, that's bad, Mercury wanted to leach off of the back of BT but BT was not allowed to compete fairly, that's bad.
If Murdoch wants to compete with the Post Ofice then he should do it fairly and the Post Office should in turn be allowed to compete fairly, and if that happens we will see how much money ther jackels make then!
Posted by: Donkey, Swindon on 1:24pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Doug you state it exactly as it is. From the word go it was a calculated and unfair competition as the Royal Mail was used and abused by other operators, encouraged by a devious Ofcom.
I worked for 29 years for the RM and we knew what was happening to the service as every means possible was introduced to undermine the good, reliable and cheap service being made available to the British public.
Before those anti- Labour commentators write that it has all happened under the current Government ... they are quite wrong in that assumption, I was there when it all began!
Hope the lambing went well?
Doug you state it exactly as it is. From the word go it was a calculated and unfair competition as the Royal Mail was used and abused by other operators, encouraged by a devious Ofcom.
I worked for 29 years for the RM and we knew what was happening to the service as every means possible was introduced to undermine the good, reliable and cheap service being made available to the British public.
Before those anti- Labour commentators write that it has all happened under the current Government ... they are quite wrong in that assumption, I was there when it all began!
Hope the lambing went well?
Posted by: LordBelacqua, Swindon on 1:59pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Donkey:
[bold]10 years in government to fix it.
Still getting worse.
Tories may have started it, but Labour are just as guilty in failing to stop it.[/bold]
Donkey:
10 years in government to fix it.
Still getting worse.
Tories may have started it, but Labour are just as guilty in failing to stop it. Posted by: yeti, swindon on 2:17pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]paul_swindon[/bold] wrote:
Anyone see Anne Snelgrove in the Adver today holding a banner "save our post office"? Unbelievable doesn't come close when she voted to close the post offices and then tried to blame the Council. How is the Post office anything to do with the Council? They should resign for sheer blatant lying to the public they are both a disgrace to decent people.[/quote] she's lost my vote.that was the straw that broke the camels back for me.i have always voted labour but not anymore.it is a shame julia drown stepped down as she was an exellent mp.snelgrove is diobolical
paul_swindon wrote:
Anyone see Anne Snelgrove in the Adver today holding a banner "save our post office"? Unbelievable doesn't come close when she voted to close the post offices and then tried to blame the Council. How is the Post office anything to do with the Council? They should resign for sheer blatant lying to the public they are both a disgrace to decent people.
she's lost my vote.that was the straw that broke the camels back for me.i have always voted labour but not anymore.it is a shame julia drown stepped down as she was an exellent mp.snelgrove is diobolical
Posted by: LordBelacqua, Swindon on 2:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Yeti: Agreed. I could have seen me voting Labour if Julia Drown was our MP - she at least looked like she cared.
Yeti: Agreed. I could have seen me voting Labour if Julia Drown was our MP - she at least looked like she cared.
Posted by: doug@homefarm, SN1 on 7:26pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]LordBelacqua[/bold] wrote:
Donkey: [bold]10 years in government to fix it. Still getting worse. Tories may have started it, but Labour are just as guilty in failing to stop it.[/bold] [/quote] Your post makes no sense and has no relevence to Donkeys' post.
LordBelacqua wrote:
Donkey: 10 years in government to fix it. Still getting worse. Tories may have started it, but Labour are just as guilty in failing to stop it.
Your post makes no sense and has no relevence to Donkeys' post.
Posted by: doug@homefarm, SN1 on 7:36pm Thu 27 Mar 08
Donkey, lambing still ongoing and weary. 5 hours sleep in last 48. lots of lambs but quite a few dead, some down to the dog attack I posted on recently.
I think some of these posters should read The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists they might improve themselves.
Donkey, lambing still ongoing and weary. 5 hours sleep in last 48. lots of lambs but quite a few dead, some down to the dog attack I posted on recently.
I think some of these posters should read The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists they might improve themselves.
Posted by: doug@homefarm, SN1 on 7:38pm Thu 27 Mar 08
[quote][bold]LordBelacqua[/bold] wrote:
Donkey: [bold]10 years in government to fix it. Still getting worse. Tories may have started it, but Labour are just as guilty in failing to stop it.[/bold] [/quote] Your post makes no sense and has no relevence to Donkeys' post.
LordBelacqua wrote:
Donkey: 10 years in government to fix it. Still getting worse. Tories may have started it, but Labour are just as guilty in failing to stop it.
Your post makes no sense and has no relevence to Donkeys' post.
Posted by: LordBelacqua, Swindon on 9:55pm Thu 27 Mar 08
It makes perfect sense and is entirely relevant.
Donkey is, once again, blaming the Tories for the woes of this country.
I maintain, as many of the apparently more well-informed members of these facilities, that Labour have had 10 years to fix these problems, and indeed have continued what the Tories started. Yet still they insist that it is all the fault of the Tories - whilst I agree that the Tories are guilty of starting it, Labour, having continued the process with no intent of stopping it, are more guilty of the death of the postal service.
It makes perfect sense and is entirely relevant.
Donkey is, once again, blaming the Tories for the woes of this country.
I maintain, as many of the apparently more well-informed members of these facilities, that Labour have had 10 years to fix these problems, and indeed have continued what the Tories started. Yet still they insist that it is all the fault of the Tories - whilst I agree that the Tories are guilty of starting it, Labour, having continued the process with no intent of stopping it, are more guilty of the death of the postal service.
Posted by: Donkey, Swindon on 10:58am Fri 28 Mar 08
Lord B, do you actually read my posts or just happen upon the word 'Donkey' to have a snipe?
I no more appreciated Labour's stance on the issue of the PO than the previous regime. It was clear that they felt, very unwisely, that competition in all areas would be better for the general public.
This has been proved totally wrong as in the case of the utility companies ... competition just creates money for already wealthy pockets, and who pays the extra ... we do, those who have to use the facilities!
Labour are not perfect, but they are the only alternative to some very poor options.
Lord B, do you actually read my posts or just happen upon the word 'Donkey' to have a snipe?
I no more appreciated Labour's stance on the issue of the PO than the previous regime. It was clear that they felt, very unwisely, that competition in all areas would be better for the general public.
This has been proved totally wrong as in the case of the utility companies ... competition just creates money for already wealthy pockets, and who pays the extra ... we do, those who have to use the facilities!
Labour are not perfect, but they are the only alternative to some very poor options.
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