News

Tom Biggins, Conservative Spokesman for Telford, was delighted at the outcome of the packed 
Public Meeting – to keep Randlay Post Office open - that he organised at the Randlay Centre, 
on Monday, 7^th April 2008.

Tom said: “As chairman of the meeting, I wanted to make sure that local people had the opportunity to 
get their message over directly to the representatives of the Post Office. Speaker after speaker from the 
audience gave examples of how much Randlay Post Office means to them and why it must not close. 

“Residents made it quite clear that they were not prepared to travel to Brookside or queue for long periods 
at the town centre Post Office, which are the two alternatives suggested.”

Also present at the meeting were representatives from Postwatch - Steve Lax, Network Advisor, and Patrick 
Cooper, Committee Member - Councillor Eric Carter, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, at Telford and 
Wrekin Council, and Vin Patel, Shropshire Branch President of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

Tom said: “The fact that over 160 people turned out on a cold, wet April evening clearly indicates the great 
depth of concern that exists within the local community over the future of Randlay Post Office. So many 
turned out that the chairs soon ran out, and many people had to stand.

“People were asking why David Wright MP had voted in Westminster to close Post Offices. I assured 
them that I was campaigning to keep Randlay Post Office open and I believed that, if there is any 
justice in the current Post Office closure programme, people power would prevail and that we would 
save Randlay because it is profitable and one of the busiest Post Offices in the Telford area.”

Tom is urging residents to help stop the closure by signing the Conservative petition available at the 
Randlay Post Office and Shop and his E-petition – posted at www.tombiggins4telford.com. He is also 
urging people to write directly to the Post Office with their objections – posting their letters to the 
“National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM, or correspondence by email 
to consultation@postoffice.co.uk.

At the end of the meeting a vote was taken. “A unanimous show of hands showed that Randlay 
Post Office must stay open,” Tom Biggins concluded.