Are we paying the real price of progress? (From Warrington Guardian)

Are we paying the real price of progress?

WHY were people pleased to hear that Winsford was chosen for the police headquarters?

I had the 'misfortune' of visiting our new police headquarters to carry out a seemingly simple task of delivering a shotgun certificate to the firearms department that is now based there for the purpose of updating it, as is required by law.

When I parked in the visitor's space, I was met by an attendant who questioned my reason for being there.

I explained this and was told to proceed into the building and leave my document at reception.

I went into the building and had barely passed through the double doors when I was met by another attendant who also questioned why I was there.

I repeated my reason, only to be told that I was not allowed to leave a letter for the department, even though the people involved worked in the building.

This was apparently because the building did not belong to the police!

I was then advised that I could, of course, leave the letter if I wished but it would stay in reception 'forever'.

What I need to do, apparently, is send the letter using Royal Mail service and then, and only then, will the letter be delivered to the relevant department. How bizarre.

For the past 20 years, I have hand delivered documents to the same department, when it was based in Chester, without any problem. What an improvement this expenditure brings us.

It is rather ironic given the publicity of gun crime, that when an honest firearms/shotgun certificate holder attempts to comply with legislation and obligation, it would appear I am penalised and faced with bureaucracy.

No wonder there are people who avoid abiding by the law, given the level of service I was exposed to.

What is the matter? Does the police service have no internal method of delivering mail to departments within the same building?

Wake up, it's 2004 - perhaps one of the 'attendants' could be employed to do the job.

I have 'played the game' and stamped my envelope, which will now do the rounds, and risk being lost before it gets to the place where I took it to ensure this would not happen.

I assume this is progress?

NAME AND ADDRESS

SUPPLIED