Nick Bourne AM

  The good ‘ol Post Office is now entering the latest phase of its inept programme of government sponsored closures of one of the most successful institutions ever to be developed  namely our network of post offices. This closure programme is wonderfully termed in Orwell speak in the letter that has been sent out  as ‘Engaging the Agents’.

The letter that has gone out to this lucky band of agents or Post Offices as we used to call them, and it is  to all Post Offices in Mid and West Wales,as far as I can see, is a letter that is unsettling communities throughout my area.The letter reminds this happy breed that the Post Office was good enough to write to them in July 2007 advising that the Network Change Field  Team ( more Orwell speak for the closure team ). This team  armed no doubt with axes and cyanide pills will  soon be visiting the area– enough to strike fear into the hearts of all agents–no doubt fully engaged by now in reading the exciting missive from Tracy Marshall the Network Change Programme Office Manager (Orwellian for in charge of closures) for and on behalf of Post Office Ltd ( and,of course,  behind the Post Office our own dear  Labour government which holds the shares and calls the tune)

The letter goes on grandly to tell the agents that Field Change Advisors ( closure advisors ) would be contacting agents who are affected in the six weeks from January 7th to tell them the worst. More chilling news.

Then those who are unaffected will be told by letter organised by the bountiful Ms Marshall and which she anticipates will be sent out  in the week commencing February 25th(remnants of the  delivery system permitting where other Change managers in the Marshall mould are doing their best to weaken the system!)

 The seasonal letter of glad tidings continues in a rare passage of truth  with welcome clearsightedness:-

‘ I do recognise ( says Ms Marshall ) that the past few months have been an unsettling time for you and for all subpostmasters who underestandably, are keen to know the future of their branch as quickly as possible.However,we continue to be committed to keeping you updated at regular intervals throughout the programme’. 

Now we cannot blame Ms. Marshall alone for all this nonsense and for the uncertainty that this is causing to subpostmasters and subpostmistresses throughout Wales( and more widely ). She is acting under orders and, of course, the government could halt this process immediately and channel business to the network instead of doing the opposite and diverting it away.

   I spent time yesterday in Rhayader discussing the position with Carolyn Flynn of CARAD and others in the community including engaging with Ms Marshall’s agents.

Labour in Westminster should stop this closure programme forthwith and Labour and Plaid in Wales should roundly condemn this closure programme which will hit the vulnerable and runs against  the green agenda  and localism — two principles of action that I certainly hold dear. To add insult to injury the Labour-Plaid administration in Wales has announced that any Post office that is closed under this government sponsored cull and which has in the past five years received money from the Post Office Development Fund to help to keep the business open will have to pay the money back–a smart move eh? Why not get them to pay for the axeman and the cyanide pills as well!!