Author: JohnW
Company: .

Closure of Rippingale Branch Post Office

Bullet points for letter/email writing (sorry, a bit wordy – we may sharpen them up a bit later):

Information relating to customer numbers is incorrect and does not correspond to the numbers currently using the branch.

Information relating to our proximity to the nearest fully-operational branch is incorrect. The nearest Office is in Morton, not Pointon as stated by the Post Office. The mileage to Morton stated on the Post Office website is 2.5 miles which is incorrect. The correct distance is over 3 miles

There is no viable bus service to any of the other local post offices

There is NO footpath to ANY of the neighbouring Post Offices.  It a dangerous walk along the A15 to Morton.  It is a long and dangerous walk to Pointon along a narrow but heavily used B road.

Folkingham Post Office is listed as an alternative service in the branch closure leaflet but has itself been singled out for closure, and is given Rippingale as an alternative.

An ‘Outreach’ service with limited hours will not in any way serve the needs of the village and the current clientele.

There are many local businesses including a number of mail-order companies that rely on the Rippingale Post Office.  One business has estimated that if Rippingale Post Office was lost it would cost them over £1000 / year to take their mail to Morton – more to Bourne.

The loss of the Post Office will make the shop unviable and it will close within 12 months.  This will cause great hardship to those without transport, and lead to an enormous increase in the number of car journeys made for small purchases. This is a direct contradiction of the Government’s policies on global warming.

The closure would badly affect the most vulnerable members of our community; the young, the elderly, family carers and the disabled, the groups most dependant on local services and the least mobile.

FORPO

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