A dispute over financial shortfalls that had threatened the future of four Isle of Wight post office services has been settled in a positive way.
Disputed financial shortfalls recorded by the Post Office Horizon IT system had put the futures of Godshill Village Shop Post Office and outreach services in Brading, Totland and Wootton, at risk.
A difficult situation that had echoes of previous challenges to sub-postmasters with regard to discrepancies in the transactions, accounting and stocktaking managed through the Horizon IT system has now been avoided.
Island Community Ventures – the trading arm of charity Community Action Isle of Wight – and Post Office Ltd have agreed to work together moving forward from a clean slate.
Mike Bulpitt, director of Island Community Ventures and CEO of parent charity Community Action Isle of Wight, said:
“This has been a worrying time and I’m very glad that we can now work to maintain these vital community services knowing that Post Office Ltd are supportive of our efforts.”
Island MP Bob Seely said:
“I am glad common sense has prevailed. I was happy to support Community Action Isle of Wight in highlighting the issue they were facing and it is in everyone’s interest – not least those who rely on community post offices – that the matter has been positively resolved.”
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The whole Horizon scandal was devastating for those post office staff involved. The incredible lack of urgency to compensate those victims is a great injustice. This is still dragging on and needs urgent resolution.
Please could they do something and provide a Post Office in Newport Town Centre?
Capital town with a Post Office!
Thats sums up IW Council for you.
What Capital does not have a Post Office!
The Island is being run by I.D.I.O.T.S.
How is this anything to do with the council? Surely Royal Mail is a private company. What a thankless task it is to be a councillor, they get blamed for everything on the Island guilty or not!
Exactly. This has nothing to do with the council.
Sandown is in the same situation but, unlike Newport, at least the Post Office are advertising an opportunity for one there (even if the closing date for applications isn’t until November)
Could we have a list of where Post Offices are and opening times please, so many have closed down lately I can’t keep up with it all.
You are obviously on the Internet so just do a search yourself.
Why has this disastrous system not been scrapped? Perhaps the CEO of the Post Office would like to comment?
Really not my problem is it.