First, a general point. It seems to me that to go through this closure exercise before the decision about the future of the Post Office Card Account has been taken is unwise and could even be thought to be devious. If the Post Office loses this account, it will threaten the existence of some of the branches because of decreased workload and so we could again have to go through another round of possible closures.

Up until now, closures have happened piecemeal and I have at least two examples of local closures that were made on condition that another branch would stay open only for that other branch subsequently to be closed as well.

Thus, ideally, I feel that this whole closure exercise should be delayed until the future of the Post Office Card Account is known. I am supported in this desire by a unanimous resolution of the Wyre Forest District Council which I expect will be in their formal response.

Turning to the four proposed branch office closures in Wyre Forest, I have had no approaches to me to argue with the proposed closure of the Wolverley branch, which is already temporarily closed, and the Stone branch.

However, there is violent, reasoned and extremely sensible opposition to the closure of the two other branches in Wyre Forest.

It is significant that a lot of the signatures come from people over the age of 70 and that quite a number come from outside the immediate area because of the advantages this branch provides over other Post Offices in Kidderminster proposed as alternatives if this branch is shut.

Again, the geography is most important to understand. Comberton Hill is the main entrance to the town from the east and from the railway station. It is a thriving business community and the response to the consultation from the Wyre Forest District Council will list at least 48 private businesses and public service organisations that are located in the immediate area (listed below as Schedule 1). These use this branch office not just for the purchase of stamps and stationery but for the convenient safe deposit of their cash takings, for obtaining cash floats and for their post, in the case of mail order businesses which may consist of heavy articles.

The alternatives suggested are completely ridiculous. The Burcher Green branch is in quite the wrong direction for anybody using this route into Kidderminster. It is further out of the town centre, lost in a residential development to which there is no other reason to travel. It also happens to be up and down hill and would be quite out of walking range for many of the people using Comberton Hill now.

The other alternative suggested is the main Kidderminster Post Office in the town centre. This is quoted as a mile away. Parking is difficult and costly and, already, there are long queues at this Post Office at many times of day. For a small business, typical of those on Comberton Hill, to be able to spare the time for a member of its staff to leave their workplace, travel to the main post office, park and lug their heavy load would be quite impossible. Some of the businesses are run by a single handed owner and at the moment, he or she can shut the shop for five minutes or less and dash to the local office. With travelling parking and queuing, this could be an hour or more to go to the main office.

Thus, the Comberton Hill branch is vital to this area of Kidderminster. It is vital at this time, particularly, because plans are well advanced to enhance this entry to the town of Kidderminster from the railway station. Some new businesses, dependent on the Post Office, have opened up in this busy road where, in fact, one can park easily. The Severn Valley Railway and the Railway Museum are major tourist attractions at one end of Comberton Hill. The County Court and the Magistrates Court are in the middle of Comberton Hill, opposite the Post Office, and we have just had the excellent news that a unique Carpet Museum has obtained funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which means there will be another major tourist attraction at the bottom of Comberton Hill.

I would point out that there are two errors and one omission from the Branch Access Report. The errors are that there are steps at the entrance of the Branch and, in fact, there is a short ramp. The other is that the bus stop is 450 yards away when, in fact, it is far, far closer. The omission which I find inexplicable is that it is, as far as I can see, the only one of the Branch Access Reports that does not contain information about the average number of customer sessions per week. I understand it is on the document online, but was not provided initially. The Average Number of Customer Sessions (p/w) is quoted as 500-749 per week and I find it extremely difficult to understand that on these figures, the Burcher Green branch appears to be busier. Having said that, please do not assume that I think the Burcher Green branch should close in preference to Comberton Hill because, as I have said, it is sited in an important residential area.

I wonder if the Average Number of Customer Sessions (p/w) are enhanced by the online lottery facilities, as both Areley King and Burcher Green have these facilities and appear to me to have improbably large numbers compared to their neighbours under threat of closure.

In addition to the petitions, I have had large numbers of letters about the Walshes branch and the Comberton Hill branch and I consider it would be a disaster for the residential community around the Walshes branch and for the residential community, the business community and the exciting new entry to the town if the Comberton Hill Branch was to close.

'..catastrophe for the entire Post Office network' if it lost its right to handle pensions and benefits. 
It would be quite appalling. 
The entire Post Office network would be in near meltdown.'

Luff said, of James Purnell's department - Secretary of State for Department of Work and Pensions (MP - Stalybridge & Hyde) jp.webbdesignstudio.net/

.. it had 'done its best over recent years to discourage people from using the card account because they say it costs the government money'.