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Sunday 15 September 2013

Royal Mail privatisation: concerns for rural communities

The village hall in Sidbury offers post office services once a week: 
Sidbury Village Website 
And whilst "93% of the UK population live within one mile of a Post Office" - there are those in rural areas who do not:

The hamlet of Salcombe Regis has one post box (and an Old Post Office) and, like Sidmouth, a relatively elderly population which relies on regular postal collections.

There are now growing concerns that the pending privatisation of Royal Mail will further reduce services to outlying communities. 

A poll in Thursay's Telegraph shows strong opposition to the proposals:

Royal Mail privatisation: Government confirms flotation within weeks

The Government has confirmed plans to float the Royal Mail "in the coming weeks" in the most ambitious privatisation for a generation and one that could anger postal workers.




Research over the weekend suggested 70pc of the public was opposed to the privatisation plan. Mr Fallon [Business Minister] said there had always been concerns about privatisation, but added: "There are members of the public that still don't appreciate that Royal Mail is separate from the Post Office.
"The Post Office is not being sold off, there is no threat to the local Post Office, there is no threat to the six day service."
Do you agree with the Royal Mail privatisation? (Poll Closed)
 
 
 
 
 
Total Votes: 1,464
 
Which in itself follows on from reports in the Telegraph from May:
'Poisonous' privatisation of Royal Mail will cost the Conservatives votes in 2015, Bow Group warns Tory MPs - Telegraph
Royal Mail privatisation could cost rural Tories their seats | The Bow Group
Ben Harris-Quinney Royal Mail Privatisation – where is the debate?
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