3/7/07

RELOCATION OF BOURNEMOUTH POST OFFICE TO W H SMITH

Sir John Butterfill met representatives of the Post Office and W H Smith today at their flagship office in Hammersmith and expressed his concerns about the relocation of Bournemouth Post Office to the WH Smith store.  In particular, he raised concerns about lack of access for disabled people, the distance from disabled parking bays to the WH Smith store and the situation of the Post Office on the first floor of the store and the problem of evacuation in the event of an emergency.

Whilst he was impressed with what they have done at Hammersmith, it did not seem to John that it met the problems of access that are inherent in the first floor facility at WH Smith in Bournemouth.  He said:  “In particular there are problems for disabled people in connection with the ramps on the ground floor and the smallness of the lift which will not take most wheelchairs or disabled buggies.  I am also concerned about ease of evacuation in the case of fire.”

The Post Office representative, Mrs Sally Peach, promised to reconsider the matter in the light of John’s representations and will look again at what is proposed for Bournemouth.

3.7.07