Three week old Marlow Post Office could close (From This Is Local London)

Three week old Marlow Post Office could close

1:00pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in

By James Nadal »

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MARLOW'S new Post Office may close after just three weeks because of a dispute over disabled access to the building.

The family who run the new amenity in Institute Road say they are willing to quit and lose their £30,000 investment.

It follows disability campaigners' outrage over the step which means wheelchair users have to be lifted in ( see related articles below).

Sub-postmistress Aruna Soni said they are doing their best to find a solution but their plans to amend the problem have been rejected by Wycombe District Council.

Mrs Soni, whose family has spent £30,000 setting it up, said: “ That's my hard earned blood money. I regret taking this Post Office. If needs be I'll shut it down. I'm willing to give up rather than having this aggravation.

“If they persist and say we have to have this ramp I will have no alternative but to shut down because I can't afford it.”

She added the majority of residents are “delighted” with them.

Royal Mail bosses have told her Marlow will have no Post Office if they were to go.

The temporary building in Dean Street car park, which was labelled a 'third world shack' by tourists, has already gone.

Marlow Chamber of Trade said there will be “uproar” if the amenity is allowed to close but has backed the Soni family who run it.

Marlow Chamber of Trade Secretary Jo Braybrooke said she was “gobsmacked”.

She said: “It really is a dire situation, it's absolutely appalling and there will be uproar if it goes.

“Marlow is a big place and we need a Post Office. It needs to be looked at carefully as to where it went wrong and why.

“Whoever gave them the go ahead is at fault and whoever mucked up should bite the bullet and pay for the changes.”

“What we need is a compromise, the Sonis need help from somebody.”

Barry Young, director of Marlow Flooring, said it was “ludicrous” after Marlow had waited nearly three years for a permanent Post Office.

He said: “It's like we've won the lottery in Marlow and then the cheque has bounced. If we lose the Post Office it's going to be bedlam, it's a horrendous situation.

“If the council are not prepared to bend slightly with the application, I think they are being unreasonable.

“This town can't survive without a Post Office.”

He questioned why the new information centre next door, which is accessible to disabled customers, could not have been connected to the Post Office.

Wycombe District Council are the leaseholders of the property.

However, spokesman Catherine Spalton said responsibility for ensuring disabled access lies with the Post Office and it “would not be appropriate or the council to cover the costs of any access improvements” because it is a commercial organisation.

She said: “During the planning stages and prior to the opening of the Post Office, we informed the operator of their obligation to consider disabled access to the premises.”

WDC's building team reviewed a drawing sent to them last week, outlining possible access improvements.

They recommended it should follow guidance in the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and try to “to mirror more closely” the ramp in the new information centre next door.

Miss Spalton said: “Ultimately, the Post Office and its operator should reach an agreement for what they believe is acceptable in order to satisfy the DDA before implementing the changes and supporting the design with a robust access statement.”

The Post Office released this statement: "We do not approve detailed designs, however we do offer advice and support to our agents on ensuring that their premises are accessible and a disability grant scheme is available.

“We are still in discussions with our agent over the matter and further construction advice is being sought this week to see if anything more can be done.

“Obviously the size and design of the building are factors which have to be considered but we remain optimistic that the matter can be resolved.

“Post Office Ltd is completely committed to ensuring that Post Office services are maintained in Marlow and would be happy to meet with groups/organisations with a legitimate interest in the issue.”

Contact Post Office® Customer Care, FREEPOST, PO Box 740, Barnsley, S73 0ZJ.

Comments(20)

maryotoole says...
10:30am Sat 20 Mar 10

Although I do not have access to all the background information, it seems that Wycombe District Council may be failing in its responsibilities under the Disability Equality Duty regarding access to the new Post Office. This act requires ‘that all public bodies - such as central or local government – pay ’due regard‘ to the promotion of equality for disabled people in every area of their work.' (DED website)

I understand that WDC rents the whole retail unit and sub-leases to the Post Office, which runs as a franchise. If so, why did the ‘lessee’ landlord, a public body, not install level access to the unit, before sub-letting it? It is unreasonable for a private business to be up to speed with a regulation which affects only the public area. It could be argues that WDC has a responsibility towards supporting the provision of essential services to the people of Marlow. By installing a lovely access ramp in the Tourist Office, it could be argued that WDC is supporting only certain aspects of public good (Tourism, bill paying and local information) over what could be argued is a more essential public service, a functioning post office, which is essential to business as well as non-business day to day.

Why could the 2 units not have been designed with a shared accessible entrance? This may still be possible, with a little joined up thinking. Surely Post Offices operate within retail spaces elsewhere in the country, and it is normal retail practice to sublet sections of floor space?

I have also heard, along the grapevine, that the portacabin post office did not even supply good access, as the turning circle at the top of the ramp was too small. (OK for pushchairs but not mobility vehicles) So many people have already been without access to a local post office for considerable time.