Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Woodstock Post Office

I remain deeply concerned by the actions of Woodstock Town Council, whose role is to represent the interests of the people of Woodstock.

As many of you will now be aware, a resolution of sorts has been reached regarding the Post Office. Rana and Swarn Lally have been allowed to continue running the Post Office, with a rent increase of £2,000, which appears reasonable. However, they have been required to vacate the flat above the premises, for which they currently pay a separate annual. The Council intends to re-let the flat at a higher market rate.

In practical terms, this means that Rana and Swarn will have to commute daily from Slough in order to open and operate the Post Office. I have spoken regularly with Rana throughout this process and he is understandably upset by the situation. He has told me that they intend to continue until their lease expires in 2028, after which they will leave.

Rana has also informed me that one councillor told him that if he was unhappy with the situation, he should simply walk away, and that a ‘community shop’ would replace the Post Office. What exactly a community shop is, and whether it could provide the same services, is an open question.

It is important to remember that the Lally family are not living in the flat rent-free. While the rent may be below full market value, this arrangement helps support the operation of a vital community service. Post Offices are not highly profitable businesses, and their value to a town extends far beyond financial return.

There are a number of concerns surrounding this decision, and I believe we need greater transparency and public discussion. Most importantly, we need to ensure that the flat remains affordable for whoever operates the Post Office in the future. If we fail to do so, there is a real risk that Woodstock could lose this essential service when the current lease ends in 2028.

I would therefore like to propose the formation of an action group to discuss and coordinate our response. We collected more than 250 signatures in just a few hours - imagine what could be achieved with an organised team of volunteers.

Some points for discussion include:

1. Attendance and Decision-Making

Only five of the eleven councillors were present to vote on this matter at the meeting on 16 June. Given the significance of the decision, many residents may wish to understand how such an important issue was determined by less than half the Council.

2. Lack of Public Transparency

Decisions were made behind closed doors, meaning that neither the public nor the Lally family had the opportunity to present their views. While some financial matters understandably require confidentiality, many residents will question whether this issue warranted such secrecy when so much is at stake for the community. The Council should openly explain the reasoning behind its decision in a calm and transparent manner so that residents can properly understand and discuss it.

3. The Future of the Post Office

The flat should form part of the overall Post Office package in order to make the role attractive and sustainable for future operators. This does not mean providing accommodation free of charge, but rather recognising it as a community asset and pricing it accordingly. Without such support, it may prove extremely difficult to attract future operators, and Woodstock could permanently lose its Post Office after 2028.

4. Community Action

We should organise a carefully planned petition and make it available in public locations throughout the town. This could be supported by a door-to-door campaign to ensure that as many residents as possible have the opportunity to express their views.

5. A Volunteer Committee

Finally, I propose establishing a committee of volunteers to coordinate efforts, share information, and engage constructively with the Council. I would be more than willing to be involved. I propose we have a meeting to discuss action. Please reply to melanieking62@gmail.com if you would like to be involved in the action group or just want to express support.

Please take this opportunity to express your concerns to Woodstock Town Council in writing and ask for a clear explanation of the decisions that have been made. There may be valid reasons why an emergency meeting was called when six members of the council were absent, why discussions took place behind closed doors, and why the public was not consulted on such an important matter. However, these reasons should be openly explained to the residents whom the council serves.

Transparency and accountability are fundamental principles of local government. As a resident, you have every right to understand how decisions are being made, particularly when they affect valued community services.

Make your voice heard. Ask questions, seek clarification, and request openness from those elected to represent the people of Woodstock. Transparency is not a privilege - it is a right.

Melanie King

Dear Editor,

Woodstock Council votes to more than double the spend on itself!

WOBL readers may remember this headline from the letter I wrote for the February/March 2026 edition. The headline was based on the Town Council Staff and Administration budget for 2026/27 being agreed at £210,500 (mainly increasing staff payroll) versus the 2024/25 actual of £101,000, whilst cutting the mere £5,000 previously allocated for Town Projects together with reductions to other services.

What Council taxpayers might not know is that our precept was increased and the budget also presented rent increases on Council owned properties of £37,000 (+25%). Without these increases in income, it would not have been possible for the Council to come close to a balanced budget.

It now appears that proposed rent increases were not agreed with all the tenants. As WOBL readers may be aware, the owners of Woodstock Post Office (a Council owned property) have, they say, received a letter proposing to put up their rent from the current '£20,500 to approximately £38,700'. Not surprisingly, they are challenging the reasonableness of a £18,200 increase, and their letter to Councillors has been circulated on Facebook.

It is beyond comprehension that our Council would assume, with as I understand it no prior discussion, that a Post Office could ever afford such an increase regardless of the market valuation provided by the Council's Agent. As the letter from Rana and Swarn (the owners of the Post office) makes clear, it puts the business at risk of closure and a valuable asset to our community could be gone for ever. What is equally incomprehensible to me is that having presented and agreed a budget to spend an additional £109,500 on Staff and Administration, the same Council would risk the closure of a Post office by proposing an additional rent of £18,200 from the owners.

For me, it is yet another example of a Council which prioritises spending on itself and not the residents it serves. Please readers, if you can, attend Council meetings to see for yourself how our representatives act on our behalf.

Chris Coe

Dear Editor,

The Church Clock

What is happening to the St Mary Magdalene Church Tower Clock which appears to have stopped at 11.10 for a very long time and is no longer striking the hour?

We are particularly concerned to find that this historic clock has not been in working order for many months. It is an important part of the Town's heritage yet appears neglected. When living nearby we so enjoyed the chimes and the catchy musical tunes that could be heard throughout the Town. Something must be done to restore this historic asset.

Graham and Jennie Candy