Wiltshire | Archive | 2001 | March | 1
From the Gazette & Herald, first published Thursday 1st Mar 2001.
MP James Gray is to protest to the Department of Trade and Industry after the closure of three north Wiltshire post offices because staff are not up to date with modern technology.
Earlier this month, the Gazette published the story of Joyce Brazier, who runs Foxham Post Office, and has been forced to retire because she cannot get to grips with the new computerised way of working.
Mrs Brazier, 78, ran the post office for 18 years before the compulsory Horizon system was introduced last year.
Last week, the Gazette revealed Di Bell of Nettleton, and Derek Coates of Christian Malford, are also giving up their post offices because of the new system.
"It is absolutely ludicrous the Post Office has told you they will close you down because you do not want to become computerized," Mr Gray told Mrs Brazier when he visited her last week.
"You provide a vital service to the village, which you have done perfectly efficiently for all these years without a computer. But now the whizzkids in London want to close you down.
"Let's not go without a fight."
The Post Office, however, said the new system was crucial to enable post offices to offer a wider range of services such as universal banking.
Mr Gray has promised to raise Mrs Brazier's case in Parliament at the earliest opportunity.
"The Government has got to understand that computerisation and modernisation may all sound very good on paper," he said.
"But in the countryside it's having the affect of closing down sub-post offices which are a lifeline for so many people, especially pensioners."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008