Counter

by James Kilner and John Lavabre

Today the Evening Press launches its Counter Attack campaign to fight Government proposals which could devastate YOUR local post office.

Under new Government plans, most benefits - from pensions to child allowance - could be paid directly into bank accounts instead of over the counter at post offices.

The idea could sound the death-knell for thousands of sub-post offices that rely on commission from handling benefits for about a third of their income.

Geoff Simpson of Helmsley Post Office lends his support to the Save Our Post Office campaign

Hundreds of people are registering their concern by signing petitions at their local post office.

We hope they will also get their voices heard by filling in a special coupon inside tonight's paper, and sending it to us from their local post office.

The coupons, being run throughout our campaign, will be collected and posted off to Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers, in charge of post offices, to make public opinion ring out loud and clear.

One of those post offices under threat from the proposed changes is at Kirkbymoorside, where sub-postmaster Andrew Gardner said: "We reckon we get 2,000 customers per week. Around half of these are benefits customers."

Ryedale MP John Greenway has given his full backing to the fight against the changes he warns would be "catastrophic".

He said: "We have already lost six post offices in Ryedale to closure since the election. If the village post office closes the village shop goes with it. It's a big threat.

"But this is not just going to affect rural areas, local post offices in urban areas are going to be hit too. It's unbelievable."

But Hugh Bayley, Labour MP for York, rejected claims that thousands of sub-post offices would be forced to close nationwide if the Government's proposals came to pass.

He said: "I believe the post offices are raising unreal and unnecessary fears and it's wrong for them to be trying to stop a system that many customers want because it's far more convenient."

Mr Bayley also moved to allay fears that people would be unable to use post offices to pick up their benefits payments.

He said: "We are changing the payment system to offer people the opportunity of having their benefits paid by Automated Credit Transfer to a bank account because it is what a lot of customers want.

"But we have made it absolutely clear that those who wish to continue to get their benefits paid at the post office will be able to do so."

Counter Attack to stamp out threat to post offices

As the Evening Press launches its Counter Attack campaign, James Kilner examines why post offices are so important...and so vulnerable

Sub-postmaster Phillip Bushell knows all too well how important his post office is in the community.

Mr Bushell, who runs Boroughbridge Road Post Office, in York, speaks of an 84-year-old gentleman who comes into his post office once a week and stays to chat for an hour.

He said: "Some of the older people who cannot get into town any more don't see anyone for days until they come in here.

"One gentleman, I think he's 84, spends an hour down here on a Thursday afternoon. He comes to talk to somebody and he'll talk to anyone in here.

"Sometimes, in the summer, he'll be here for even longer."

It is this sort of customer that sub-postmasters fear will be hit hard if sub-post offices have to close because of the Government's planned changes to the way benefits are paid.

If the Government has its way, most benefits will be paid directly into bank accounts through an Automated Credit Transfer instead of over the counter at post offices.

Despite Government attempts to reassure people about the future of sub-post offices in this country, thousands of people throughout the region are adding their voice to a growing campaign.

Geoff Simpson is the York branch secretary of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters and also runs Helmsley Post Office.

He said: "If this goes through then it would mean the closure of seven or eight thousand post offices nationwide.

"The Federation is supporting Post Office Counters and pushing the Government as much as it can.

"At the post office here we have been involved in a petition which is proving very successful because everybody who comes in here wants to sign it."

Pressure seems to have told because on Friday, Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers pledged that people who want to do so will still be able to get benefits over the counter at post offices.

Mr Byers also suggested that post offices could be subsidised to address people's fears.

But sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses remain unconvinced about the Government's attempts to reassure them, and say they want deeds, not words, to secure their future.

Stephen MacKinnon, sub-postmaster at Rufforth Post Office, also runs an off-licence and newsagents from the same premises as the post office.

He said: "This would not be viable for me any more because the post office salary helps me with repayments.

"I would not get the people through the door and I would seriously have to think about whether I could continue with the business.

"This post office closed down for a while when it was run by one of the past owners. The people in the village had a very bad time, they remember that and they do not want that to happen again."

Chris Swift, with his wife Kate, has run Linton-on-Ouse Post Office and general store in the village for five-and-a-half years.

He said: "Nobody wants this to happen. We are encouraged by the support and we hope it has an effect. But at the moment we would certainly support this sort of campaign.

"If people are no longer coming here for their benefits then they would not be spending the £2, £3 or £4 they usually do on other things.

"That is where it is going to make a difference to whether we are viable or not.

"You look at Linton at the moment and it's always busy with people walking up and down. But you take the post office, you take the shop out of a village and it's dead."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.