MINUTES OF A MEETING OF PUBLOW WITH PENSFORD PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON MONDAY 28th APRIL 2025 IN THE MEMORIAL HALL, PENSFORD
Attendees: Sue Grimes, Steve Grimes, Tracy Jones, Jenny Gully, Paul Baxter, Steve Filer, Layla Malt, Paul May, William Tantam
Apologies: Claire Dinsdale
Planned closure of Pensford Post Office sorting office and moving the operation to run out premises in Paulton – this affects Paulton, Clutton, Hallatrow as well.
Umang Patel made a speech. Very thankful for all the support they have received from the community so far. There will be one combined unit servicing a number of villages. Looking at 60% loss of income for Umang and his family and therefore it will not be viable for the post office to continue operating on its own. Local manager is taking early retirement and the area manager is also leaving the post office so Umang and Vaishali are getting little help from them. Umang and his family have no intention to leave the village but they need all our support.
Eddie Spear (Royal Mail Senior Postman)spoke. Current mail operation is subsidised by parcels as there is not enough postal /letters work to make it viable. Parking is a real issue – locals parking all day and preventing potential customers from coming into the shop. Parking needs to be policed. Could the Parish send a letter asking residents not to park all day in the 2hr parking bays? Ed and Umang are happy to post out the letter to every property within the parish if the Parish Council produce the letter.
Paul May spoke and reinforced his support. He is exploring if there are any grants available to help bridge the gap for Umang and Vaishali and will update us.
Members of the public fully supported Umang and Vaishali Patel
Paul May requested any proposals should be copied to Paul May and he will liaise with appropriate people.
Decisions made and actions:-
1. The Parish Council voted to oppose the closure of the sorting office
2. The Parish Council voted to send a letter opposing to the closure to the post office
3. The Parish Council voted to do a petition providing that the wording is accurate, clear and precise about the objective. William Tatum will circulate his petition this evening
4. Sue Grimes will draft the letter
5. A letter to go with the petition to explain the need to keep the 2hr parking spaces free
6. Petition to go on-line, in the post office and in local public houses
7. Layla Malt with draft the letter to be delivered to all residents – ready for Umang and Ed to deliver