| Letter to Post Office from LMPC Chairman |
Written 03/03/08
Mr. Nickolls,
Closure of Post Office at Lydiard Millicent.
My Parish Council is amazed that, only 13 months before the proposed closure was announced, the Post Office had spent about £15,000 in helping us re-open our village Post Office and shop, which had closed some 3 years before. We cannot believe that in November 2006, when that help was given, plans were not already in hand for the closure of Post Offices such as ours.
Whilst we may not have quite qualified to be accepted as a `sustainable small community', the Post Office is an integral part of village life. It was badly missed when it first closed in 2003, which is why we spent so much time and effort in seeking adequate premises for it's re-opening. 14 months has been inadequate time to regain the customer base, especially when the Government has withdrawn so many of the Post Office's income-earning services. It can only be seen that these closures are following a deliberate and sustained programme of closures for cost-cutting reasons, and no other.
It obviously demonstrates that Government promises to support rural communities, are no more than empty platitudes. They are not now trusted to fulfil any promises.
When rural areas begin to degenerate from continuing reductions of services, high petrol prices, lack of investment, and the spread of new housing, we shall be seeing increasing lawlessness and unrest. The countryside will then have lost the peaceful and pleasant lifestyle enjoyed by many over the last millenium.
T.H. Pepperall, Chairman, Lydiard Millicent Parish Council.
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