Mardi Gras Fancy Dress Hire
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100's of costumes, wigs &
accessories for adults & children
Costumes can be made to order
Tel: 01263 820 329
Mobile: 07944 067 234
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SPOT THE SPELLIN MIST-ACHE
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Don't forget,In every issue we
are going to be putting some deliberate spelling mistakes. Let us know what pages they are
on and obviously which word. Make sure you tell us who you are and where we can contact
you. Those of you who spot ALL of them will be put into the draw, the winner will receive
one pound for each spelling mistake they find.
So hurry up, read this paper from cover to cover, find the mistakes and you could be |
| IN THE MONEY!!! |
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| RETURN OF 'THE OUTSIDER' |
This has come about after
reading 'Hear'Say' in your last issue. He talked of developing Sheringham; my plans four
years ago were much more imaginative. The man clearly has no vision.
A jetty or pier? What is clearly needed is a 3-mile pier, it would be the longest in the
world and a visitor attraction. It would also save all those people in Sheringham who
cruise the hassle of travelling to Southampton.
My other suggestion was an extension of the M11 to the Clock Tower in the High Street.
This would greatly reduce the travelling time to London (for those of you who don't know
where that is- 'it's south of Watford'). It would also increase the number of visitors and
hence help our shopkeepers.
He also referred to a 'LARGE FOOD OUTLET', again no imagination! Pretty Corner is an ideal
location for at least 3 or 4 of them, each with its own car park and each one blending
into the environment. Then we really would have choice and competition like everywhere
else.
Enough for now!
I will return again.
THE OUTSIDER
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As some of you will by now be
aware, there are some major changes being made to the way that benefits will be paid out.
We have contacted the Press Office at the Post Office to get accurate information as to
what exactly is changing so that we can try to see what effect this will have on both the
people drawing their benefits and the Post Offices themselves. We received the following
information from the Press Office:
In response to the Government's decision to pay all benefits electronically from April
2003 directly into a bank account, Post Office Ltd is extending its banking services to
enable benefit claimants to continue collecting their benefits in cash from Post Office
branches from next April. They will be able to do this through different options:
Using their existing bank account, if they bank with several High St banks including
Alliance & Leicester, Barclays, Co-operative Bank, Lloyds TSB.
From April 2003, basic bank account-holders will be able to access their basic bank
accounts at Post Office branches: . Basic bank accounts will generally offer credit by
benefit payments and other income, cash withdrawal over the counter at Post Office
branches or by ATM, direct debit facilities (for the regular payment of bills), debit
card, however there will be no overdraft facilities.
As an alternative, benefit claimants will also be able to have their benefits paid into a
Post Office Card account. Post Office Card accounts will offer payments in via direct
credit from a Government department only, meaning cash withdrawal over the counter at Post
Office branches only, but with no overdraft facilities, no ATM or debit card.
To withdraw money from a basic bank account or a card account, over the counter at a Post
Office branch, customers will hand their bankcard to the counter staff. Staff will swipe
it through the Post Office computer system and the customer will need to key in their
personal identification number (PIN) on the pad on the counter for extra security.
These PIN pads are currently being installed on the counters of every Post Office branch,
at the rate of 300 per week (for information: the running total of PIN pads installed can
be found on the Post Office Intranet site).
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When complete,
there will be 38,000 pads installed, the largest network of any retailer in the UK. The
PIN pads will be operational from April 2003. The PIN pads will also be able to read the
computer chips embedded in bankcards once these are activated from 2004. Pilot schemes
will enable us to gather feedback from customers and staff, providing valuable input for
the national rollout. The switch to the direct payment of benefits through bank accounts
will be a two-year programme, starting from April 2003.
Now this information is very helpful and accurate, but does it really tell us the impact,
good or bad, it will have on those people who claim? Please remember that the Post Office
Staff will always be there to help you in any way that they can before, during and after
this transition.
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Will sub-post
offices survive, after all, if people don't have to go there to draw their money, but go
straight to the bank in town, they could possibly lose customers. |
Many are already struggling to stay open, will this be the final nail in their coffin?
The loss to small communities where the post office is the hub could be
catastrophic. How will some of the older generation cope with the new technology,
those who have no bank account because they 'don't trust banks'? Will they want to open a
Post Office Card Account, or will they want to keep their books. Many of them with failing
memories are likely to carry their PIN number with their cards so they don't forget it.
For those who have no bank account because the high street banks deem them a risk, will
the Post Office allow them all to have a card account? Will people be able to use the Post
Office Cards at any Post Office?
What do YOU think? After all, it effects many of us in Sheringham.
Let us have your views. |
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