The Petition of residents of Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill constituency and others,
Declares that the proposed transfer of Post Office facilities from Market Place, Viewpark to Old Edinburgh Road, Viewpark is unacceptable for social, economic and community reasons.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to prevent the proposed transfer of facilities.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr Tom Clarke, Official Report, 23 June 2010; Vol. 512, c. 399.]
[P000838]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills:
The Government have been clear in “The Coalition: our programme for government” that we will ensure that post offices are allowed to offer a wide range of services in order to sustain the network, and we will look at the case for developing new sources of revenue, such as the creation of a Post Office Bank.
Since 2001, when the Royal Mail (which includes Post Office Ltd) was set up as a public limited company with the Government as its only shareholder, Government have adopted an arm’s-length relationship with the company so that it has the commercial freedom to run its business operations without interference from the shareholder. The precise location of post office branches is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd.
Post Office Ltd has advised that the Burnhead branch has been operated by a temporary agent following the resignation of the previous sub-postmaster. Post Office Ltd has now appointed a permanent agent to enable post office services to continue in the area on a longer-term basis, following a local public consultation. Post office services will be incorporated into the local convenience store in Uddingston, about half a mile from the current branch.
Facilities at the new location will include extended opening hours, a new purpose-built serving counter and parking facilities adjacent to the premises with two disabled spaces.