Post Office

[emmie]

Does anyone know who has control over the local Post Office, to do with planning. For example if they sell food, as many do now, do they have to get permission from a governing body, or someplace else.

[emmie]

would anyone know, or point to a website who might>

[ChuckFickens]

Post offices do not sell food.

The shop the post office is located in may well sell food, or anything else but the post office is separate to the shop.

[emmie]

chuck, so who gives the PO/shop permission to sell food on the premises
is it local authority.

[boxtops]

It's the other way round, em - the shop is there first, the shop trades in whatever it trades in and it's licenced to so by the local authority - they then apply to the PO to have a post office counter (which is a separate trading business, I believe).

[emmie]

Boxy one is the other way around, Post Office there for years, then shop, now all combined.

[boxtops]

That's a different model then, I haven't seen one of those - it must still be licenced by the local authority as a general store, or a purveyor of hot food, or whatever it is.

[emmie]

one of ours was a PO for years, then for some reason the PO bit was virtually cut into a fifth, and the remaining part of the property was converted into convenience shop. They are still one operation, area, but now the 4/5ths is food.

[CheekyChops]

It seems that if they are Sub Postmasters and running the PO from their own premises then they can do what they like:

"97% of all post office outlets are sub post offices, run by private business people, subpostmasters.

Subpostmasters are not POL employees, but instead have a contract with POL to provide services using their own premises and staff. Generally, subpostmasters receive a fixed payment from POL; this is topped up by a variable payment based on the number of transactions they carry out. Most subpostmasters run their post office business under the same roof as another retail business. In urban areas this is often a newsagent or stationery business. In rural areas it is typically a village shop. Post offices offer a wide range of services."

[emmie]

cheekyc in which case if one had a complaint about the shop side of the business who do we send it to. Local Authority?

[maclarencat]

That rather depends on your complaint. If you think they dont have permission to sell food then contact planning. If it is a health and hygene problem Enviromental health.

[bednobs]

it depends what the complaint is. If it's for example about how one of the employees spoke to you then you need to complain to the shop. If it's about how they are selling out of date food, it might be worth telling the shop first to give them a chance to rectify it, and then go to environmental health dept at the council. If they are selling things outside of say a licence then i would guess it's either the licencing authority or council (which may be the same thing)

[emmie]

thank you, given me something to think about

[bednobs]

having read your question a little more carefully, i notice you say it's to do with planning. In which case it's deffo the local council you need to contact

[emmie]

bedknobs, i think it probably is planning we need to contact, thanks for the help

[Buenchico]

A Post Office would normally have category 'A1' planning permission, which means that the present (or future) occupiers can use it for any of the following purposes, without the need for further planning permission:
(a) for the retail sale of goods other than hot food,
(b) as a post office,
(c) for the sale of tickets or as a travel agency,
(d) for the sale of sandwiches or other cold food for consumption off the premises,
(e) for hairdressing,
(f) for the direction of funerals,
(g) for the display of goods for sale,
(h) for the hiring out of domestic or personal goods or articles,
(i) for the reception of goods to be washed, cleaned or repaired,
where the sale, display or service is to visiting members of the public.

Chris

[bednobs]

GETTING BURRIED BY THE POST OFFICE - INTERESTING!

[bednobs]

whoops sorry puppy decided i needed to shout

[emmie]

shame that the selling of stamps has gone to pot then.

[hc4361]

em10, I can buy stamps online, I can print stamps off and stick them to my letters and parcels, I can buy them from the newsagent, the corner shop, the supermarket, the petrol station, the card shop, the gift shop.
So why shouldn't post offices sell cards, gifts, magazines, food?

[boxtops]

I still go to the PO to post parcels, although I noticed that WH Smith is now a reception point for DHL packages - I must look into that!