It's a big NO to Sainsbury's Post Office plan for Bridgwater

8:00am Tuesday 31st July 2012 in News

The town's temporary Post Office The town's temporary Post Office

Bridgwater has delivered its verdict on plans to put the town's main Post Office branch in its Sainsbury's supermarket - and it's a 'NO'.

Civic leaders, community officials and residents have been united in their opposition to the plan to site the facility, which will replace a temporary building in Northgate, in The Clink.

Last week Sedgemoor District Council heard opposition from residents at a specially-arranged meeting in the town and hundreds of signatures against the move have been collected on petitions.

Glen Burrows, of Bridgwater Senior Citizens’ Forum, said at the meeting: “We want a town centre branch in dedicated premises.”

At the conclusion, Julian Taylor, chairman of the council’s community scrutiny committee, said: “The move would be inconvenient and reduce footfall to the centre.”

Post Office spokesman Laura Tarling said: “We are running a public consultation for seven weeks. In the past we have changed our mind as a result of consultations.”

What do you think? Have your say in the comments box below.

Comments(19)

thekurgen says...
8:33am Tue 31 Jul 12

Reading between the lines of the following comment,
Post Office spokesman Laura Tarling said: “We are running a public consultation for seven weeks. In the past we have changed our mind as a result of consultations.”
Looks like the post office will be heading to Sainsburys then . . . .

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RustyKnight says...
11:12am Tue 31 Jul 12

As Tesco seems to have fallen off the radar I can't see the post office going anywhere but Sainsburys, unless Asda decide they want it.

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swjoduk says...
1:06pm Tue 31 Jul 12

Personally I would prefer to see it move to the old Argos store or one of the other empty premises in town.

Failing that the empty old East Quay medicial centre building. Its a disgrace that its been allowed to be left empty for so long.

However, if it came to it I wouldn't object to it being within Sainsburys. Plenty of parking, not too far from town centre, I do most of my weekly shop there and its close to my work.

The post office in Angel Place was a nightmare and I would try to avoid it if possible due to the queues!

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MINIME2 says...
8:42pm Tue 31 Jul 12

I think Sainsbury's ,and any other supermarket should say no to the post office it should be in the town centre but the old Eat Quay medical centre is a good place people from the top end of the town can either walk or catch a bus and shop at the same time. All buses do not pass Sainsbury's but all buses come into the bus station

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MINIME2 says...
8:42pm Tue 31 Jul 12

I think Sainsbury's ,and any other supermarket should say no to the post office it should be in the town centre but the old Eat Quay medical centre is a good place people from the top end of the town can either walk or catch a bus and shop at the same time. All buses do not pass Sainsbury's but all buses come into the bus station

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BaldCarl2 says...
10:23pm Tue 31 Jul 12

Glen Burrows, of Bridgwater Senior Citizens’ Forum, said at the meeting: “We want a town centre branch in dedicated premises.” - That's what you've got now so stop moaning.

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lorna doone says...
10:50pm Wed 1 Aug 12

There are so many empty premises whats wrong with this town i will run it from my home if u like wheres all the money going in this town ? no other town has problems like this why is Bridgwater always dipping out wheres all the money going?!

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lorna doone says...
10:56pm Wed 1 Aug 12

Put it in the mercury obviously you know more the public are moaning where is all the money going in this town ! lining pockets it looks like its disusting call yourself a council feel sorry for the elderly and disabled

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lorna doone says...
10:58pm Wed 1 Aug 12

Have a party in the park no chance here in Bridgwater! ?

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lorna doone says...
11:01pm Wed 1 Aug 12

There are so many empty premises whats wrong with this town i will run it from my home if u like wheres all the money going in this town ? no other town has problems like this why is Bridgwater always dipping out wheres all the money going?!

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File Yer Own Bleedin Teeth says...
12:22am Thu 2 Aug 12

BaldCarl2 wrote:
Glen Burrows, of Bridgwater Senior Citizens’ Forum, said at the meeting: “We want a town centre branch in dedicated premises.” - That's what you've got now so stop moaning.
The genuine people of Bridgwater know that Gwen Burrows is one of the best, a woman who stands up and fights for what is right, who puts herself out to help the rest of us, so always remember that. The P.O needs to be where we can access it, not in a off-centre trading estate.

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File Yer Own Bleedin Teeth says...
9:22am Thu 2 Aug 12

File Yer Own Bleedin Teeth wrote:
BaldCarl2 wrote:
Glen Burrows, of Bridgwater Senior Citizens’ Forum, said at the meeting: “We want a town centre branch in dedicated premises.” - That's what you've got now so stop moaning.
The genuine people of Bridgwater know that Gwen Burrows is one of the best, a woman who stands up and fights for what is right, who puts herself out to help the rest of us, so always remember that. The P.O needs to be where we can access it, not in a off-centre trading estate.
Sorry Glen, spelt your name wrong, that"s old age getting at me, even more reason we need to get the PO bang in the town centre.

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Wellyboy says...
10:38am Thu 2 Aug 12

i emailed the Post Office and our MP and have yet to have a reply from both.
The only people to benefit from this would be the bosses of Sainsburys who will "gain" in the extra revenue of users of the Post Office doing their shopping at the same time.
They are probably giving Sainsburys rent free use of the building too

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sheldoncooper says...
11:44am Thu 2 Aug 12

Email our MP again and tell him that South West One are taking over the Post Office....you'll get a reply in seconds

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bts73 says...
12:37am Sat 4 Aug 12

have it next to that knocking shop down st jons street - most convenient.

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sceptic_steve says...
2:14am Sat 4 Aug 12

If you guys all say 'No' to Sainsburys you should do so with caution. If the P.O decide Bridgwater is just too much hassle and leave the town with nothing what then?

Do we all have short memories about that chaotic period last year with NOTHING, imagine that all year every year.

'Beggars can't be choosers'. Bridgwater is not a strong enough town, with a vibrant enough retail sector to be making such demands.

Accept the Sainsburys plans and be happy there is a P.O.

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silver_fox says...
7:02am Sun 5 Aug 12

The late opening hours of a Supermarket certainly make good sense, plus the convenience of Sunday opening. Add that to a large free car park and a site such as Sainsburys is ideal for the majority of people. Who actually "lives" in the Town Centre anyway - most of us live on the outskirts and drive everywhere don't we? Some people just oppose change of any sort - we have to move with the times and realise that Post Offices are commercial concerns that have to make a profit. Most of us, I suspect , visit Sainsburys ( or another supermarket) more often than we visit the centre of Bridgwater.

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Bridgy old Boy says...
8:51am Mon 6 Aug 12

Surely if you want a drive through Post Office with extended hours why not go to Parkway where there is free parking etc etc. A Town Centre Post Office should do what it says on the tin ie be in the Town Centre! The Sainsbury's site would run contrary of what the public expects and indeed deserves. It is clearly a quick hassle free easy fix for the Post Office and another victory for a multi national retailer against the small independents.

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silver_fox says...
9:52am Mon 6 Aug 12

Life has changed and we have to fave up to the fact that Post Offices are not used as much as we would like to think they are. The District Council decision seems based not on what's best for the majority of people , but on what's best for the few town centre traders that are actually left. On their watch we have lost "The Splash" from the town centre and that drew in a whole lot more people than the Post Office!

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