Lib Dems lead fight for local Post Offices

4.46.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Apr 2008

Liberal Democrat Councillors on Wychavon District Council obtained assurances that the Council will help communities fight to retain local post office services. The Council noted with concern the determination of the Government to ignore public opinion and continue with its programme for the closure of 2,500 post offices across the country.

Introducing the debate at Tuesday's Council meeting, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Margaret Rowley said "It is a year since the publication of the Council's Post Office Scrutiny Team Report. Since then, the Government's programme has led to the closure of around 18% of post offices in areas so far reviewed. Our area is the last to be considered, and we can learn from the experience elsewhere. The 'consultation' process in our area will begin on 27th August and last 6 weeks. The date has been postponed until after the current round of local elections due to the 'politically sensitive nature' of the proposals. If there are similar proposals here as elsewhere we will be looking at the closure of between 5 and 7 post offices in Wychavon. We need to work with local communities to make sure they do not lose vital services."

Cllr Liz Tucker added "Wychavon needs to exercise its community leadership role to help local people campaign effectively to retain the services they need. This may mean that we have to consider alternatives to the traditional post office in some cases. We need to focus on the needs of our residents, and the services we are fighting for. It is regrettable that the amount of business coming through post offices has been reduced, and losing the post office may lead to the loss of the village shop as well. In some cases we may need to look at other ways in which we can support the village shop unit."

The Council pledged to campaign to keep post office services in key locations to maintain access to postal and financial services for large proportions of residents. The Council will be making a robust response to the proposals when they are received. Council Officers will prepare briefing notes for Parish Councils by the end of June.