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Passfield Post Office - purplecurly (27th Jun 2007 - 18:03:15) I would like to let you all know of the proposed closure of the Post Office at Passfield. As our ONLY amenity, it would be devastating to lose it. Please, if you are passing by - go in and spend on a paper or something that you would usually do elsewhere. Please support us Passfield residents....... I have written to our MP and will keep you informed of his response. PC

Re: Passfield Post Office - Steve Read (27th Jun 2007 - 18:28:26) PC I enquired about this rumour back on the 12th May on the Passfield Web thread. I had heard about this some time prior, its a great shame especially compared to the shambles that is our current post office in Liphook. Its a handy little shop as well for most things and I for one will be sorry to see it go. Is the shop closing all together or just the post office?

Re: Passfield Post Office - Candyfloss (27th Jun 2007 - 18:54:36) Purplecurly Is it something the community could adopt? Like in other small villages - where residents all own shares in it, run it and keep it going. I know the PO is looking to cut out many small outlets, and perhaps Greatham and Liss Forest PO's could also be under threat? It is quite surprising that Passfield has quite a large number of businesses for such a small area - and would presume that they use the facilities on a daily basis? Do they still close lunchtimes? tried a while ago to do business there and to shut lunchtimes in todays times seems rather silly - so not tried them again since.

Re: Passfield Post Office - Duncan (27th Jun 2007 - 23:00:29) Will be a shame if they do. Steve's right, far better than Liphook, and often quicker to go to from Liphook rather than queue for ages.

Re: Passfield Post Office - John Wood (28th Jun 2007 - 08:20:53) First of all we would like to thank you all for your support. At this stage we cannot say for certain whether Passfield Post Office And stores will close, but we cannot simply wait for the axe to fall - we understand that full details of closures will be released by the end of July. We have formed a small team to make the residents aware and to voice their concerns: organise petition: lobby parliament and generally raise the matter into greater public awareness. Please show your support call in and sign our Petition and complete our customer survey. Just to clear another point we are open at lunch times and have been since we took over in November so feel free to conduct your business at lunch times. Many Thanks for your support. John & Sue

Re: Passfield Post Office - Candyfloss (28th Jun 2007 - 08:44:35) John Nice to hear that you are OPEN lunchtimes. I must confess that I didn't realise that new people had taken over in November!! I don't use the store for that reason, but intend to use it more from now on. Do you do lottery sales? I hope your campaign is successful, and like other small Businesses, it is up to the public to support them or we will lose out in the long run! Would you be able to continue if the Post Office side has to close??

Re: Passfield Post Office - John Wood (28th Jun 2007 - 10:18:19) We currently do not do lottery maybe if we stay open!! I would also like to confirm that the Royal Oak at Hollywater is supporting our campaign so call in for a pint and sign our petition. Many Thanks John & Sue.

Re: Passfield Post Office - nikki (2nd Jul 2007 - 16:20:03) Giving this thread a big bump. We really need to do all we can to support Jon and Sue in keeping this vital community facility OPEN. I believe officials are/will be visiting the premises imminently, so everyone who supports this please ,please lets show them how important Passfield post office and stores are! A petition is available to sign on site. We need the hub of our community to stay open!!

Re: Passfield Post Office - John Wood (2nd Jul 2007 - 18:31:00) Thanks Niki We need all the support we can get over the coming weeks. Many Thanks John & Sue

Re: Passfield Post Office - Janet (2nd Jul 2007 - 22:39:58) I shall certainly be writing to Mr Arbuthnot about this. I hate the way arbitrary rules are applied without a second thought for the consequences for small communities. The really crazy thing about it is that the Passfield Post Office is a profitable business, it's not as if the tax payer is forking out to keep it afloat - so I can see no valid argument at all for closing it. It just doesn't make sense. I'm sure it's not just Passfield folk that use it; there is quite a bit of passing trade too. It would be so badly missed and it will be a tragedy for Passfield if it goes - the heart of the village will be gone. And what about the new proprietors, who took it on only a few months ago as a viable business? They were assured at the time that it would not be up for closure.

Re: Passfield Post Office - Barry Hope (2nd Jul 2007 - 22:51:06) I know that our MP reads these pages from time to time, perhaps you would be kind enough to give an opinion James. I think it is a travesty that business's like this, especially one that serves a very real need in the community is allowed to vanish without trace, I'm afraid it's all too often symptomatic of the decline in the British way of life. Best wishes Barry

Re: Passfield Post Office - Freddie Dawkins (3rd Jul 2007 - 11:14:22) What's really shaming, is that the Post Office HQ had been advertsising sub post office franchise opportunities - until fairly recently. I know someone who took two days to go to a meeting Leeds, present their business plan etc etc - only to be told that he would not be offered an opportunity to buy a franchise. It turned out that everyone who attended was told the same - and this was about 6 weeks before the Post Office officially announced it was closing thousands of sub post offices. Makes you wonder - are the crazies in charge? I saw the Post office boss, Allan Leighton, interviewed recently. He was saying that for the first time, the PO was not receiving Government grants. So that's what it's all about - our government has closed the till and so the PO fat cats are looking after their pensions and perks, laying off loyal staff, and closing profitable businesses that don't fit with the "core" business objectives.... I hope all the Passfield custiomers do get together and support the business. Long may it continue.

Re: Passfield Post Office - James Arbuthnot (3rd Jul 2007 - 15:14:38) Yes, I’ve been getting a number of letters on this, partly, I’m sure, as a result of this thread. But it’s mainly because Post Offices like the one at Passfield are important to our everyday lives. I simply cannot explain why a profitable business should be threatened with closure. If we go along with what seems to be coming out of Whitehall at the moment, we will end up with fewer sub-post offices, providing fewer services to fewer people. Last week Henry Featherstone, who runs my office, spoke at length with both John and Sue Wood at Passfield and I’ve raised all their concerns directly with the Minister at the new Department for Business. I do hope the Minister’s reply will provide some clarity for Passfield. But my wider concern is that instead of trying to work out how many post offices they can get away with closing, the Government should be working out a real business case of how to keep them going. That might involve increasing the number of things a sub-post office could do, so that in turn more people would be attracted in, so that in time the sub-post offices would become increasingly viable. When I was Pensions Minister I took a conscious decision not to move benefit payments onto benefit cards. To do that would have saved the taxpayer money, which would have been good, but it would also have threatened the sub-post offices which do so much to cement together local communities. The more time goes by, the more I wish the Government had stuck to that policy. The point really is, I suppose, that we want and need something over and above the large shopping outings that we seem to prefer to do in supermarkets (no, I shan’t mention the word). We do also need at different times of our lives and in our differing circumstances the smaller local shops, including the sub-post offices which are local shops valuably kept going by the Post Office business they transact.

Re: Passfield Post Office - Candyfloss (3rd Jul 2007 - 19:08:01) James Brilliant that you have replied to the Passfield situation. You make a very valid point that we all at sometime need small independant stores - but these are the most unprotected. Until legislation is introduced to control the expansion and Monolopy of the Larger Supermarkets more will be lost. How much longer will it take for the first Supermarket to have their own PO. They now have banking departments, credit cards, and Tesco offer almost everything, albeit mostly to online customers - AT PRESENT. The rot started a while ago, and if more move quicker perhaps it will not worsen. Also a small independant outlet, be it a Post office or not needs REGULAR trade - not just the one off urgent jobbie that hits us. We are all failing these outlets by endorsing those that clearly flout their planning restrictions by writing to them and nothing else. Local councils do not have the finances to fight these large money making machines and therefore are left alone, with only a note marked on their record at some council office - do you think that they are really bothered by that!!

Re: Passfield Post Office - Steve Read (3rd Jul 2007 - 21:45:15) Popped in today for a few bits and signed the petition. A point of interest whilst in the store, one elderly gentlemen in the store and another going in as I came out. Now I appreciate some can drive, what about those local who can't and depend on this store for their bits of shopping. It will be a great shame for all if this has to close. Keep fighting and hanging in there folks. They need more signatures people. (John, where do I send the bill for unwrapping the tea bags and loading up your shelf)?

Re: Passfield Post Office - Mike Grimes (4th Jul 2007 - 00:55:49) Unwrapping tea bags? It must be only small village stores that can satisfy the need for loose tea in this way. Keep it up. Infusiastic.

Re: Passfield Post Office - nikki (4th Jul 2007 - 10:39:33) Another reason to visit Passfield p.o & Stores, they sell locally produced Honey ( made in Passfield actually)...and it is lovely! Also good for those who suffer with hayfever

Re: Passfield Post Office - nikki (5th Jul 2007 - 16:25:27) bump....this IS an issue that needs to stay front page. Please,lets put all our efforts into this worthwhile cause. If you haven't already done so,please sign Jon & Sue's petition or write a letter in support as a matter of urgency Regards, Nikki

Re: Passfield Post Office - Barry Hope (5th Jul 2007 - 16:39:18) Nikki, I will call in later and sign the petition as it is an important issue and one which should not be allowed to fade away. Best wishes Barry

Re: Passfield Post Office - Eneida (5th Jul 2007 - 16:49:53) Nikki, Can't this petition be put on line so we can all sign it even if we can't get to Passfield ? Or if not possible perhaps an e-mail address we can post a message of support on? Eneida

Re: Passfield Post Office - Eve Hope (5th Jul 2007 - 17:35:29) Hi Nikki, I will be calling in to see them shortly to offer support and will sign then. Regards Eve

Re: Passfield Post Office - candyfloss (5th Jul 2007 - 18:13:19) Fantastic another few postings in total agreement - it must be working.

Re: Passfield Post Office - purplecurly (6th Jul 2007 - 14:44:03) I note that people have noticed that a lot of elderly non-drivers use the store. This is true and it is very annoying that they still have such difficulty trying to cross the road! Come on - please tell me that the different colour road paint is all we get for 30K If children and the elderly could get accross safely, then more would spend their money in the shop.

Re: Passfield Post Office - nikki (6th Jul 2007 - 15:26:27) I am unsure if the recent road improvements have been funded out of our "pot", something which I will be addressing very shortly. In the meantime, lets keep this thread devoted to our plight to save the Post Office & Stores. Regards, Nikki

Re: Passfield Post Office - John (8th Jul 2007 - 16:46:51) Dear All Just to let you know the cut off date for signing your petition in Passfield Post Office and sending personnel letters etc is the 11th of July 07, these then will be distributed to the relevant people. Yet again thank you for your over whelming support. John & Sue.

Re: Passfield Post Office - purplecurly (11th Jul 2007 - 12:27:10) MPs reponse was - we're doing what we can....... I went in yesterday to sign before it was too late even though I have complained to all other parties. I hope all the businesses in Passfield Mill and Passfield Business Centre have written. Can you imagine how many car trips (by local businesses) into Liphook will be needed if it closes! OUTRAGEOUS

Re: Passfield Post Office - John Wood (14th Jul 2007 - 09:35:32) Update We have now sent all the petitions in = close to 700 signatures, individual letters sent x 200 plus and customer survey which shows some intresting facts if we close. Main Points:- Preferred P.O. If Passfield Closed Liphook would increase by at least 111 visits per week of which 88% would use cars. Could they cope with the extra car parking / traffic? Would Liphook P.O cope with extra footfall? 88% = 195 people would use their car to visit other P.O. so if they all travelled an extra 2 miles this would equate to an extra 390 miles per week = increased carbon emissions etc. Public transport is non existent in Passfield, Whitehill & Conford etc. Yet again thanks for all your support and we will keep you posted. Many Thanks John & Sue

Re: Passfield Post Office - purplecurly (15th Jul 2007 - 18:38:47) Hi there John and Sue, I was wondering if you could be an outlet for Riverford as the distribution centre is only in Lynchborough Road. that way you could have a niche market in organic fruit etc as well as honey. Would do me a favour as I am always running out before my next delivery is due and I hate getting So Sossers range as it is overpriced and goes off too quickly. Just a thought Dawn

Re: Passfield Post Office - John Wood (22nd Jul 2007 - 08:25:18) Hi All Just to let you know we have received a letter from James Arbuthnot giving his support, he has received correspondence from The Rt Hon John Hutton MP and this will be placed in the Shop for your viewing. James and the press will be visiting Passfield Post Office at 4 pm 27th of July so feel free to come along and support his campaign. Yet Again Thanks For Your Support. J&S

Re: Passfield Post Office - Joy Venturi Rose (27th Oct 2007 - 12:04:07) Is there to be any co-ordinated approach to keeping the Passfield post office open. I have looked at the post office arguments and am not sure of my facts to respond to them. For example how safe/reliable is the bus service to Liphook and what about disabled access. This seem to be the main arguments they have against the Passfield office.

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