Westbourne Post Office Franchising Plan Sparks Local Concern in Bournemouth

Residents in Bournemouth are expressing significant concern regarding the recent proposal affecting their local Post Office. The Post Office is evaluating over 100 branches, including the Westbourne branch in Bournemouth, for potential conversion to a franchise operation. The closest existing alternative, located at WH Smith, Christchurch Road, in Bournemouth town centre, is scheduled to close in January. Jessica Toale, the Labour MP for Bournemouth West, has initiated a petition advocating for the retention of Westbourne Post Office. The Member of Parliament stated: “These services go beyond just posting letters – they are a lifeline for many. For elderly residents who rely on it for paying bills or withdrawing cash, for local businesses who use it daily for banking and postage, for local families wanting foreign currency, or to send letters to family and friends abroad.” Ms Toale highlighted that no other Post Office is situated within walking distance, underscoring the “important” need to preserve the Westbourne branch. She further commented: “The decision to include the Westbourne Post Office on the list of branches at risk of closure was made with no prior consultation or input from those who depend on it daily.” Jane Kempton, a resident of Talbot Woods, is among those who have endorsed the petition. She described Westbourne Post Office as “very popular” and expressed her desire for it to be “saved.” Ms Kempton further remarked: “Where do the old people go to get their pensions? Not everyone’s got a bank account so it is needed and it’s a well-used post office. Everyone’s just so friendly and lovely. It’d be very sad if it went.” Another resident, David Medina, from Bournemouth, commented: “The whole of Westbourne is alive to it, and we’re absolutely shocked. Something’s got to be done. I’ve been using this branch since I was a boy. You very rarely, at any time of the year, go in there and walk straight to the counter. You have to queue. It would be a big problem if the branch were to close.” To date, Ms Toale’s petition has accumulated 500 signatures. She intends to present the residents’ perspectives to the Post Office and government ministers, with the aim of preserving what she describes as an “iconic” branch. A spokesperson for the Post Office stated: “We are considering a range of options to reduce our central costs. This includes considering the future of our remaining Directly Managed Branches (DMBs), which are loss-making. We have long held a publicly-stated ambition to move to a fully franchised network and we are in dialogue with the unions about future options for the DMBs.” The spokesperson verified that customers would be directed to Landsdowne Post Office once the WH Smiths branch in Bournemouth town centre ceases operations in January. Updates from BBC Dorset are available on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights are reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.