(Image: Alice Kavanagh)
'The Post Office is heading the way of the Dodo'
Mary Morton's letter regarding the closure of the main Post Office in central York, at present situated within the TG Jones store, better known as WH Smith's to most citizens in York.
Unfortunately the Post Office in its present form is heading the same way as the Dodo.
With most pension now paid directly into banks/ building societies, posted cards and letters are superseded by text and mobile phones.
I probably post only a dozen cards/letters a year.
Direct Debit has superseded the paying of household bills and the like; motor, passport, and many other forms are readily available on line.
Unfortunately the Post Office has become surplus to requirements to many of the modern generation.
The closure of TG Jones to my mind in Coney Street, York is extremely sad - the creche for male shoppers to peruse through the papers, magazines and books, whilst the women folk go about their fashion, make-up and whatever shopping the get up to.
With it soon be closed for good I predict a lot of expressionless males, faking interest, accompanying the women folk, or gangs of zombie-like individuals wandering aimlessly around the streets, looking for something to do.
D M DeamerPenleys Grove StreetMonkgateYorkRecommended reads:
Photo sparks memories of York's lost railway
Once again a fine contribution from The Press Camera Club (not to be confused with the CAMRA Club) - see The Press, September 26, page 14, 'How a station’s legacy still lives on'. Thanks to Keith Blanchard.
The evocative Stamford Bridge station building, the crossing gate and the recycled track bed, even the pole with cables combine to capture a scene probably not that much different from when the line closed in late 1965.
It’s not too much of a leap of imagination to visualise a train trundling along, just pulling away from the platform.
When Bridlington was our family holiday destination of choice in early post war years this was our mode of transport to Brid from York until we were 'motorised'.
More generally on The Press Camera Club; a selection of these lovely images from The Press archive would make an attractive calendar.
Just thinking aloud!
Derek ReedMiddlethorpe DriveYork
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Why are high streets still being left behind?
One extremely serious problem facing local and district councils is the rapid decline in town centres, traditional family retailers can no longer survive due to constant rate rises, competition from out-of-town retail parks, plus online retailers, the likes of Amazon etc.
At the moment this Labour Government shows no interest whatsoever in addressing the problem which is affecting the whole country. Why not?
Possibly because they possess neither the will, inclination or nous to solve such a complex problem.
Within political circles, one question is being asked - what to expect from Burnham's first Labour Conference as PM - simple answer 'smugness'.
Peter RickabyMoat WayBraytonNorth YorkshireWhat do you think?
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