A petition has been launched to show Tesco/the Post Office how we feel about their plans.
If you would like to sign it please call in at the butcher or the library. If you would be happy to go door-to-door with the petition, please contact me on 651333.
I am hearing concerns from many local residents about the proposed changes to the Post Office in Tesco.
Many people have mentioned the lack of privacy that will be afforded to customers and the potential effect on the length of queues in the shop.
It is looking increasingly likely that the provision of National Savings and premium bonds will no longer be available.
Local business people are concerned about privacy and potential security issues. One local business told me that they can pay in up to £3000 at any one time and have real concerns about the proposed proximity of the new counter to the main doors of the shop.
If you would like the Post Office to stay as it is, please respond to the consultation that is being handed out from the Post Office counter in Tesco.
The following are some ideas for your response:
1. Relocation of the Post Office to the retail checkout counter will result in a loss of privacy in dealing with personal transactions.
2. Potential delays are very likely when Post Office business is combined with grocery checkout. At certain times of day there are already significant queues to use the Post Office.
3. Will Tesco counter staff really have enough training or experience to deliver an efficient service under the new arrangements?
4. Payment of Bills by cheque such as utility bills will no longer be possible.
5. It is not clear whether Post Office savings services will still be available.
6. In view of the population growth of Cholsey (we are the size of a small town) the full range of Post Office services should be maintained
7. There is a very short time between the end of this consultation and the start of the proposed physical changes to the shop. Is this consultation meaningful and part of the democratic process, or is really a fait accompli?
If you would like someone to help you respond, please call me on 651333
I understand from a letter I received from the Post Office regional manager that they intend to make radical changes to the way services are delivered in the village.
Plans to turn the service into a “Post Office Local” will involve moving the delivery of services from the current dedicated counter to the tills at the front of the shop. Customers would queue alongside Tesco customers and, in theory, would be able to transact their business at any till. There will also be some loss of services offered by the Post Office.
I understand this model of provision operates in Sonning Common and is very unpopular with residents.
The Post Office are undertaking a consultation exercise to see how people feel about these changes and I am encouraging as many people as possible to respond. The main address to respond to is:
Freepost, Your Comments. This is the full address and no further wording is required.
If you would prefer to e-mail, please respond to: postofficeviews.co.uk.
By ‘phone, please call 08457 223344 or Textphone: 08457 223355 9th May
However you respond, please include the code 22313799 in order to identify Cholsey Post Office.
The closing date for comments is Friday 9th May.
If you are able to respond, you might like to include some, or all, of the following points as well as any personal issues or experiences that you might have:
1. Relocation of the Post Office to the retail checkout counter will result in a loss of privacy in dealing with personal transactions.
2. Potential delays are very likely when Post Office business is combined with grocery checkout. At certain times of day there are already significant queues to use the Post Office.
3. Will Tesco counter staff really have enough training or experience to deliver an efficient service under the new arrangements?
4. Payment of Bills by cheque such as utility bills will no longer be possible.
5. It is not clear whether Post Office savings services will still be available.
6. In view of the population growth of Cholsey (we are the size of a small town) the full range of Post Office services should be maintained
7. There is a very short time between the end of this consultation and the start of the proposed physical changes to the shop. Is this consultation meaningful and part of the democratic process, or is really a fait accompli?
If you would like someone to help you respond, please call me on 651333.
Saturday’s consultation on the proposed parking restrictions in the village went well, with more than a hundred arrendees.
All the comments will go off to County Highways to be reviewed and will go towards producing the final scheme. Once the scheme has been ‘worked up’ there will be a statutory consultation from County.
If you would like to comment on the scheme, the maps are available in the Parish Office in tne Pavilion.
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