Peter Viggers, Member of Parliament, for Gosport, presented a Petition in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 16 January relating to the proposed closure of Bury Cross Post Office. The Petition was organised by Mr. Christopher Donnithorne who obtained 2,000 signatures for the Petition in a short period.
In presenting the Petition, Peter Viggers explained that the Pose Office had consulted on the closure of Bury Cross Post Office and had given a lack of transport facilities as a main reason for closure. Peter Viggers told the House of Commons that this reason was completely incorrect because Bury Cross Post Office is on a main transport route and there is a bus stop virtually outside the Post Office.
As Mr. Viggers explained to the House: “politics has taught me that the important thing is to win the war, not the battle”. The Post Office states that its decision is final but we will maintain the argument to keep the Post Office. The full text of Mr. Viggers’ short speech follows:
PETITIONS
Post Office Closures (Hampshire)
7.17 pm
Peter Viggers (Gosport) (Con): I beg to introduce a petition relating to the proposed closure of Bury Cross post office in my constituency, signed by Mr. Christopher Donnithorne and a considerable number of other constituents.
The petition parallels one that was signed by 2,000 of my constituents. The main reason given by the Post Office for the proposed closure was that the Bury Cross post office lacked public transport facilities. I pointed out immediately to the Post Office that Bury Cross is the post office in my constituency best served by public transport facilities. Indeed, there is a bus stop outside it. That appears to have been ignored by the Post Office, which still intends to close it. To that I say that politics has taught me that the important thing is to win the war, not the battle. We will continue to hope that the post office will remain open. The petition reads:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled, The Humble Petition of Mr Christopher Donnithorne retired and others,
Sheweth
That the Post Office is proposing to close Bury Cross Post Office at Gosport regardless of National Health Service plans to extend the Gosport War Memorial Hospital (immediately opposite said Bury Cross Post Office) to handle a minimum of 50,000 patients a year. That the potential customer base, for shops and services within 150 yards of this Post Office, will rapidly exceed the total population of the Gosport peninsula. That the Post Office closure proposal is based on inaccurate information, there being for example, no direct public transport links to either of the identified alternative venues. With the significant growth potential, good public transport link, and modern disabled facilities, closure of this busy Post Office at a bustling main road junction does not make sense, either in business or public service terms.
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House shall urge Post Office Ltd to reconsider this particular closure proposal.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
Peter Viggers
17 January 2008 |
