HC Deb 02 November 1949 vol 469 cc392-3
64 and 65. Mr. Turton

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that the villages of Thorton Watlass, Clifton, Thirn and Rookwith, which are in the North Riding of Yorkshire, are allotted a postal address at Ripon, which is in the West Riding of Yorkshire; that this causes confusion and inconvenience; whether he has considered the petition from the inhabitants of these villages asking for their postal address to be changed; and what action he proposes to take;

(2) whether he is aware that the villages of Gatenby, Londonderry, Leeming and Leeming Bar, which are in the vicinity of Bedale and within the area of Bedale rural district, have their postal address at Northallerton, some six miles away; that this causes confusion and inconvenience to the inhabitants of these villages; whether he has considered the petition from these villages asking that their postal address should be changed; and what action he proposes to take.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

I am aware that the postal address of each of the villages named includes the name of a post town which is some distance away, but I am satisfied that this arrangement ensures the best postal service, while the alteration proposed would provide a less efficient service which would be wasteful of manpower. I have given careful consideration to the petitions addressed to me by certain residents in these villages but, for the reasons which have been communicated to the hon. Member by letter, I should not be justified in authorising the proposed change of postal address.

Mr. Turton

Does the Minister derive satisfaction from the fact that not only all the local authorities, but the majority of the inhabitants also, have made the request contained in my Question; and on whom does he rely for his local knowledge when such great inconvenience is caused by having to include in postal addresses the name of a town in a different part of the country to that in which the village is situated?

Mr. Paling

The Post Office have a lot of experience in handling mail and know a great deal about it.

Sir R. Ross

Will the Postmaster-General always give particular attention to the needs of Londonderry wherever it may be?

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