Crown Office, Wickford

HC Deb 27 October 1954 vol 531 c1915

37. Mr. Braine

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will now make provision for a Crown post office in the expanding town of Wickford.

Mr. Gammans

The new Crown post office at Wickford will be started in 1956. We cannot make an earlier start because there are other even more urgent building requirements.

Mr. Braine

While that answer is very satisfactory so far as it goes, will my hon. Friend say on what principle a Crown post office is to be authorised for the Barstaple neighbourhood unit of Basildon, which has a population of only 4,000 now, whereas Wickford, which has a population of 8,000 at the moment. must wait until 1956?

Mr. Gammans

I would remind my hon. Friend that it is only in comparatively recent years that we have been able to allocate money for post offices at all, and, therefore, there must be some priority list.