Post Office Closure Threat - Update

1.10.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Aug 2004

Gill Nethercott and Martin Tod collecting signatures in Whitchurch Square

Post Office stays!

TESCO have informed Whitchurch Councillor Gill Nethercott that they have 'found a way to build a Post Office into the Tesco Express store in Whitchurch'. "This is terrific news" said Gill "I'm thrilled that we've won, this will be such a relief for everyone in Whitchurch"

The story began in April when Post Office counter staff were told that there would be no room for them when the One Stop store

is converted to Tesco Express later this year. The staff started a petition but were quickly told to stop by Tesco management.

Gill Nethercott immediately organised a petition in the Town Centre (see picture) and Liberal Democrats delivered a Focus Extra with petition form to every house in Whitchurch. Despite massive support for the petition, Tesco were unmoved but said that they were 'actively seeking to relocate the Post Office'. Royal Mail said that Tesco had every right to cease operation of

this Post Office branch and that they were 'reviewing the provision of postal outlets in the area'. So matters stood until this month, when Liberal Democrats stepped up the pressure:

August 6 Gill Nethercott appears on BBC South Today putting the case for Whitchurch

August 10 Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Martin Tod launches a website to unite campaigners against Tesco closures across the country

August 16 Council receives Tesco's plans for conversion without a Post Office

August 17 Tesco employee registers on www.everylittlehurts.org.uk message board

August 19 Tesco phones Gill to say that another planning application including the Post Office will be submitted shortly.

(You can phone Gill on 892462)

Gill Nethercott spearheaded the local campaign while Martin Tod linked up with other campaigners around the country to put pressure on Tesco — see the website www.everylittlehurts.org.uk

Retail giant gives in to local campaign U-turn is a victory for Whitchurch people