Broadmayne Post Office Action Group
Broadmayne Post Office is under threat of closure.
It has been decided by the Government/Post Office Ltd that 2500 post offices are to be closed nationwide. Review areas are based on Parliamentary constituencies – for us this means Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole as one review area.
Dorset is the final phase of the South west which means plan preparation in April 08 and public consultation starting on 15th July 08 for a period of seven weeks. Planned closures represent an 18% reduction in service provision, which is expected to be shared evenly between rural and urban areas.
Dorset County Council and Dorset Community Action are represented on the Dorset Post Office Network Review Group along with organisations such as the Rural Shops Alliance and Village Retail Shops Association. The Group has provided relevant information to Post Office Ltd to assist the Review Team
The issue was raised and debated at the AGM of the Parish Council, following which it was decided to form the Broadmayne Post Office Action Group. The aim of the group is to gather information and seek meetings with key people in the decision making process in an attempt to influence the outcome.
The action group held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday 8th April and expressed a determination to adopt a proactive rather than reactive approach to keeping our post office and village shop. The information we are gathering at this time relates primarily to the extent to which the village store and postal services are used by the community. Together with a demographic analysis of Broadmayne/West Knighton, the social, health, economic and employment considerations, transport availability to alternative post offices in the event of closure and the impact on the community should we lose our valued local services.
In addition, we are analysing the criteria adopted by the Post Office to determine closure. It is our intention to present as strong a case as possible to retain our postal services in the event a decision is made to close it.
You may be asking yourself – How can I help? This is how; we need your support if we are to present a strong case to retain our post office. Community support is vital in securing the decision against closure. Please write to tell us why you feel the Post Office should remain and what it would mean to you if we were to lose this vital service.
You may either email me at
Stan Harland or write a letter which Bob at the post office will accept and pass on to a group member. The emails and letters will be retained and presented along with other evidence to the Post Office Review Team and the Chief Executive Dorset County Council.
Another way in which you can help is to make as much use of our village store and post office as you can. I appreciate that on occasions it might seem more convenient to use Tescos etc., but Bob in our village store does provide a wide range of products at competitive prices and is willing to listen to ideas you may have in expanding the business.
The often quoted expression ‘Use it or lose it’ could not be more appropriate in this instance.
Your support is greatly needed and greatly appreciated.
Stan Harland (Chairman Broadmayne Post Office Action Group)
The members of your Broadmayne Post Office Action Group are:-
Stan Harland (Chairman)
Debbie Boitoult
Steve Diamond
John De Nordwall
Chris Mellor
Gordon Murray
Louise Russell
June Salt.
Village Hall Bookings
Should you wish to hire the Village Hall, which is ideal for parties or dances, you can contact....
the Bookings Secretary, Mrs Beryl Stewart-Smith
on telephone number 077 4847 4715... or e-mail her on
Broadpea@aol.com
JUDGING DAY FOR BROADMAYNE
On Monday, 21 April, Broadmayne had two hours in which to tell the judges of the Regional Calor Village of the Year competition about its community spirit.
After arriving at the village hall, the judges were taken by June Salt, Parish Council Chairman, to Broadmayne First School to meet the Mrs Anne Clark, the Head Teacher and her staff. who explained the many areas of community involvement. The judges also saw the new Children’s Centre. Next they visited St Martin’s Community Church Hall, where the Rector, Canon Dr. Jean Coates and the Church Wardens, talked about the role of the church in the community and various initiatives.
The judges then walked down the Main Street looking at the various buildings and businesses and visited that all important facility to villages – the Post Office and General Stores.
The visit ended at the Village Hall where there were displays and representatives of the Cowleaze Luncheon Club, Village Hall, WI, Scarecrow competition, the Save Our Post Office Group and the Surgery, who talked about their interaction with the Community. The visit finished with tea and chocolate cake exactly within two hours.
The village was looking particularly smart as West Dorset District Council had given it a sweep that morning.
Final round judging will take place between Saturday, 5 July and 20 July 2008.
The attached photograph shows Mrs Salt presenting a folder about the village to the two judges Nina Owen and Brian Challis at the end of the visit.
Our grateful thanks to everyone who helped to give the judges a good picture of the community spirit in the village.
Village News
More village news will appear here shortly, if you have any items then please contact Ann
Age Concern Bus Service
Age Concern Dorchester's oonce a month minibus shopping service curently has a few spaces. The service is funded by Social CAre & Health, it costs £2.00 to register, and then only £1,.50 per trip. This can be a lifeline to older people who cannot access public transport." said Sally Goss, Services Manager at Age Concern Dorchester. For more information and an application form please phone 01305 269444. "you can also use the service for dentist or optician appointments on that first friday of the month, it need not just be for shopping. If you need to take a carer or wheelchair/walking aid with you, let us know."
Created on 08/29/2003 05:51 PM by kelvinjury
Updated on 05/09/2008 11:52 PM by kelvinjury
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