Post Office opening delayed by red tape

Apr 16 2009 By Adam Courtney

A post office is due to replace the former Moss Pharmacy in Ashford

Spelthorne MP David Wilshire has voiced his astonishment at the latest "red tape" delay to hit the opening of the new Ashford post office.

An agreement had been signed with the former Moss Pharmacy in Church Road in February, and it was expected business would finally begin this month, three months after the last customer was served at the town's only remaining counters, in Woodthorpe Road.

But Post Office chiefs have now announced a six week public consultation, to the dismay of Tory MP Mr Wilshire, who cannot understand the latest delay and says the Post Office have broken promises

He said: "When the previous office closed in June 2007 the Post Office promised a replacement as soon as possible. They subsequently promised not to close the post office in Woodthorpe Road until the new town centre post office opened. They broke that promise in January 2009.

"Excuse after excuse followed seeking to justify the delay to the opening (of the new counters). Finally, I told that all was finally well and it would open in April. Now comes the near unbelievable delay to allow for six weeks public consultation.

"This is bureaucracy gone mad. It beggars belief. For almost two years local people have been signing petitions, supporting campaigns and struggling to cope without a post office in Ashford. So why on earth are the Post Office wasting time and money asking us whether we actually want this new post office? It doesn’t need six weeks to deliver the simple message – open it now; we have been waiting for it for nearly two years."

A spokesman for the Post Office defended the delay, saying: "We are delighted to be able to announce the re-opening of the branch in Church Street, Ashford, and the public consultation is required as part of the Code of Practice as it is about getting people's views on the type of service we offer to our customers, not on the opening itself."