Thank you for visiting Councillor Ian Sherwood's web site. SAVE NORFOLK, STOP YOUR COUNCIL TAX GOING UP, STOP £100M BEING WASTED! Sign the Downing Street e - petition http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/norfolklgr/ See "Your Views" page for more detail. Latest News on Local Governmnet Review:- http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/One-council-Will-cost-more.4178263.jp FIGHT LOST TO SAVE LONDON STREET POST OFFICE LOCAL COUNCILLOR IAN SHERWOOD AND MP CHRISTOPHER FRASER DISMAYED BY ANNOUNCEMENT ON POST OFFICE CLOSURES. Councillor Ian Sherwood was very disappointed to hear that Post Office Ltd had not taken any notice of the protest to keep London Street PO open. Cllr Sherwood had worked with the local community in an effort to keep the post office open for the benefit of its many users. He thanked all those who had worked very hard in the campaign, including many local people who had signed the petition or written to Post Office Ltd, he also thanked the local MP who had called a public meeting in the effort to get the closure stopped. Christopher Fraser, MP for South West Norfolk, has expressed his dismay about the outcome of the consultation on the future of sub post offices in South West Norfolk, as a result of which all bar one of the branches earmarked will be closed. Christopher Fraser said: “I have been told that with one single exception all the sub post offices under threat of closure in South West Norfolk will be shut down by Post Office Limited, regardless of the overwhelming view of local people that we need them to remain open. “This shattering decision will be devastating for subpostmasters and postmistresses who have worked tirelessly for their customers and for those who have fought so hard to keep them. “Despite compelling evidence about housing development, local public transport services and the needs of the most vulnerable, well-used and viable branches will close. Many elderly people and those without cars will be forced to rely on help from others to visit their nearest post office, particularly where public transport is limited or non-existent. “People are already asking whether the consultation was anything more than a tick-box exercise in public relations. I believe it is clear evidence that the Government has no understanding of the difficulties of rural life as essential services close, and no interest in addressing them. “This is a shameful decision that will impact on rural communities already suffering from the loss of local banks, shops and pubs. I think it is a policy which will come back to haunt Gordon Brown and his Government.” THE CAMPAIGN Councillor Sherwood proposed at the April Town Council meeting that the Council should make a detailed submission to Post Office Ltd against the proposed closure of the London Street Post Office. The submission has been made and a copy is available on the Town Council website. Councillor Sherwood has also written to Post Office Ltd raising his concerns. Laura Tarling Network Development Manager C/o National Consultation Team FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM Via email to: consultation@postoffice.co.uk Monday 2nd June 2008 Dear Ms Tarling Proposed Closure of London Street Post Office, Swaffham, Norfolk I urge Post Office Ltd to reconsider their proposal to close the London Street Post Office, the consultation that has taken place and the information upon which you are proposing to base your decision on to close this Post Office is flawed. Account has not been taken of the imminent increase in the population of Swaffham, nor of the above average percentage of the population who are above retirement age. In addition the town has a large immigrant population, which also needs the services provided by this post office. Addressing the first point approval has already been given for over four hundred new homes on Brandon Road, which will be within a quarter of a mile from the London Street Post Office and will be over a half a mile from the town’s main post office. It is also a fact that over recent years development has taken place on the South side of the town beyond the London Street Post Office, closure of this post office will require well over a third of the towns population having to travel further to use a post office. In addition the local district council – Breckland is as part of its Local Development Framework looking to Swaffham to take additional homes in the future. Post Office Ltd has not considered the facts above in their proposal plans. The second issue to consider is that Swaffham has nearly double the national average of its population over retirement age, many retired people do not have transport and need to be within walking distance of a post office. Again the closure of London Street Post Office will cause major problems for older and disabled people. The London Street Post Office also has disabled parking immediately outside the premises, something the main post office does not. Swaffham also has a large immigrant population, with much of the rented accommodation within the vicinity of the London Street Post Office. The post office provides important services for the immigrant population. While it is not Post Office Ltd’s responsibility to subsidise retail business, removal of the post office counter from the London Street store may well make the business unviable. The Government says that it gives post Office Ltd sufficient subsidy to have a network of over 11,500 post offices across the country. I would therefore ask that consideration be taken into account regarding the number of closures through retirement etc since the beginning of the consultation started. I would also challenge the fact that the London Street post office is not considered to be finically viable as this is a well-used post office and could with additional business planning by Post Office Ltd do far more than it current does. Post Office Ltd and the Government need to look at new ways to make this and other post offices more viable and consider the services they provide. Both Post office Ltd and the Government have failed to run the service in a forward-looking business manner and have over recent years reduced the number of services available to the public at the post office. Both the Norfolk County Council and Breckland District Council have made a strong case for the retention of the London Street Post Office in their submissions and the Swaffham Town Council have made a very local case in their submission made to you. In addition nearly seven hundred users of the London Street Post Office have signed a petition, which has also been submitted to you in support of retention for the post office. Post Office Ltd finds its self in a position where many peoples lives will be adversely effected by its and the Governments proposals, but if as you say you are basing the closure program on facts relating to the usage etc – it is a matter of fact that the London Street Post office has a strong case to remain open. Yours sincerely, Cllr Ian Sherwood Swaffham Town Council and Swaffham Ward Breckland Council Link to Watton & Swaffham Times story:- http://www.wattonandswaffhamtimes.co.uk/content/wstimes/news/story.aspx?brand=WSOnline&category=news&tBrand=WSOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED04%20Jun%202008%2018%3A41%3A10%3A707 Link to Lynn News Story:- http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/Swaffham-post-office-39vital39-for.4142272.jp Breckland Council still charges the lowest council tax - 21st February 2008 Breckland residents will still be paying the lowest district council tax in the country, as a result of today’s council tax setting by Breckland Council. On your council tax bill, the Breckland District element will account for only 4% of the total bill, e.g. £61.98 at the standard Band D out of a total charge of £1,384.21. Of the remainder, the County Council precept will account for 79%; the Norfolk Police Authority 13%, and on average the town and parish council precept will equate to 4%. And for 78% of Breckland residents who live in bands A to C properties, the charge will be even less than the standard £61.98. See Breckland page for more details........... Local Campaign News Why we must work to make PCT see need for Community Hospital in Swaffham..... See your views page for further detail. Latest News......... Assurance that Queen Elizabeth Hospital Car Parking Charges will be Held at present level and to be Reviewed. Councillor and MP Encouraged by QEH Response. See "your views page" Link to EDP report :-http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED18%20Sep%202006%2020:10:51:323&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search Link to Lynn News report:-http://www.kingslynntoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=991&ArticleID=1796233 http://www.kingslynntoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=991&ArticleID=1838185 See "your views" page for how you can help support the campaign to get the Trust Board to review the charges! MOBILE PHONE MAST SURVEY! NEW FEATURE..............please complete my survey, click the link:- http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=91158833578 This site is updated regularly, so please visit again. Check all pages as most now have current information. 1st Swaffham & Breckland Councillor to have a web site! Cllr Sherwood had his first website in 2001, this website has been available from 2002. Please see your views page for latest news! Councillor Sherwood gets BT to keep local payphone boxes! Link to EDP story: http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED15%20Dec%202004%2021:05:24:827&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search&archive=0 Councillor Sherwood stops phone masts on Town Council land! Link to EDP story: http://new.edp24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED20%20Dec%202004%2019:49:26:827&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=search&archive=0 For details of his current campaigns please see "your views" page. Including BT Kiosk removal and phone mast update. If you would like to be one of the growing number of people in the Swaffham area who receive Cllr Sherwood's email Newsletter "Swaffham Matters" please email cllrisherwood@aol.com putting "Swaffham Matters" in the subject box. You will then receive a copy of the newsletter via email. Last updated Monday 18th August 2008. This site is paid for by Councillor Ian Sherwood, as part of his service to the electorate of Swaffham. Please note that the views contained in it are the personal views of Cllr Sherwood.