Residents' Association Forum

There is a proposal to move the PO to the premises of Simply Fresh with the appointment of a new postmaster.

We gather that leaflets and posters will be in the post office imminently with a public consultation ending on 31 July.

After reading that info (when it appears), views welcome.

Not enough space at SF, unless shop expands, somehow.  Their aisles are annoyingly too narrow but they may they have a solution this, I hope they can - it's not a pleasant shopping experience at the moment.

Old post office, now spruced up, makes a refreshing change.

It concerns me. I have to agree with bluesky - there really isn't enough space. I have always been happy with the service in the post office - outstanding compared to most other post offices I deal with.

I agree Deborah - the service is always very good but shouldn't change as I believe Annie will be moving with the PO. I'm sure SF have a space solution - perhaps the currently unused unit at the back of the shop will be integrated to give space for the PO??

Simply Fresh's produce and service is really excellent, and the shop is very attractively fitted out, but they do need larger premises  - perhaps they are planning to extend or even to move, especially if the post office moves in ?

How about the crown, at least you will g t some parkung

I think the article Deborah linked to a while back said they were planning to expand the shop to provide on site baking and more storage so they didn't have to receive daily deliveries. Not sure how they could fit a post office in too. Knowing what the queues are like in the old PO it could get very cramped in the aisles but the expansion was always part of their strategy so I guess they must have a plan.

The new unit at the back would be good and even handier for the car park. It does seem a shame for the existing post office shop as they finally seem to be getting their act together - perhaps prompted by SF's takeover threat.

Staff in sf seem clueless about the move......owner seen looking around the ringing board shop from his range rover.

I'm not exactly sure how it works, can the "Post Office plc"chose to relocate from the current premises without consulting the current owners?

I see it two ways, the village as a whole seem to really like the people in the current post office, they are part of the community. There is somewhat of a backlash by some against SF and I can see why (fears of taking trade from others etc), although they do seem to have a good offering and seem like pleasant enough people.

With all that said, the current shop the PO is located in (and I'm taking the shop as a whole, not the PO), is lacking and in need of a refurb. I don't see it as charming or traditional, it's just in need of some tlc. I'm not sure whose remit it is to do so, but if it falls to the current owners then it's hard to defend moving it to a more pleasant premises if the PO feel it's current location is unsuitable. Of course times have been hard so I can understand why the current owners could be financially strugging and SF have been given financial support as I understand it so it's only natural that their premises would look more shiny and new.

Tricky one.

Agreed.  I get the impression that it is a done deal and the consultation won't change things. The owners of the current PO outlet have made some cosmetic changes and it does look better. The last thing we need is an empty shop and until we see drawing of how it will work, I'm not buying into a move to SF.

My overriding concern would be that the village keeps a post office with its facilities, both as an essential part of services and as an attractor of footfall to the High Street.  You can be sure that small PO branches will come repeatedly under scrutiny for possible closure as the years proceed. 

The exact location in the village centre is secondary.

It seems to me that a new setup, if it was good, might be easier to defend against future 'rationalisation' than the present clapped-out arrangement.

I gather that attempts by the PO tenants in recent years to agree a deal with the landlord whereby the place would be properly refurbished came to naught.

The general store has become seedy and rather unwelcoming in recent years and we stopped using it a while ago.  It's in a prime retail site in the village and I would hope that if it was vacated, there might be a chance of some other retail venture and even a proper refurb.

I would be concerned that a PO would not fit properly and securely into the present SF configuration.

Article in Your Local Guardian (http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11324855.Hundreds_sign_petitions_against_Post_Office_plans_in_Thames_Ditton/)regarding the petition and heavily quoting the forum.

The article also explains "The proposed move is part of a new concept from the Post Office - delivering services from a till at a shop counter alongside retail transactions instead of from a separate screened counter."

An extra 49 hours of PO services in the week is a big plus point, especially for those working elsewhere during the week.

I agree but SF really do need to increase its size and maybe get someone who can understand English!

For any faults they may have, their vocabulary has never been in question in my eyes and your post is borderline offensive Bluesky/portmeirion/whatever your name is this week.

A public consultation on the plans to move the post office to Simply Fresh, where there will apparently be no dedicated post office counter, just the shop till, runs until July 31.

To submit your views, email comments@postoffice.co.uk, call 0845 7223344 or visit postofficeviews.co.uk using branch code 09202399.

Royal Mail to start Sunday delivery (http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2741362/Royal-Mail-set-Sunday-deliveries.html)within M25, under pressure from click and collect. Meanwhile it would have been helpful to have a post office open in TD last Sunday for a family member's urgent business....

The post office move has been approved: https://www.postofficeviews.co.uk/images/pdf/thames_ditton_kt70sa_decision_letter.pdf

New opening hours 7am to 9pm Monday to Saturday
7am to 7pm on Sundays

Pleased to see that they have included a double sliding door, I think owner also needs to think hard about shop layout or even expanding as with only two prams, walking to the till is a problem.


And also who made the high street, one way?

High St is one way for a few days while one carriageway is obstructed for gas works alongside the old bank building.  Good experiment for those who want a one-way system perhaps...

One way is okay / make sense to me

Bringing this thread back on topic as I see we have another re one way.

I believe the post office move will be January ?

Shame for the existing store and I wander what it means for them.

Perhaps, the customers who can't get into SF because of the PO queue will head over to them instead :P

SF needs a redesign or acquire more sq.ft, it doesn't work now!!!!!!

Other shop has an opportunity to do something better, l hope no more frezzer food though. Perhaps Paul should take the corner?