Don't KO our PO (Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk>

Don't KO our PO

October 14, 2007 8:35 PM

Lib Dem campaigners at Rowntree Way post office in Saffron Walden

Liberal Democrats are leading the fight to save Rowntree Way post office in Saffron Walden (pictured from left to right: Keith Crook, Liz Jones and Town Councillor Richard Freeman.

Local Liberal Democrats have condemned Government plans to close 31 more Post Offices across Essex, with more expected to follow next year. Branches under threat in this area are the sub post-offices at Rowntree Way in Saffron Walden, at Quendon, at Mole Hill Green, at Little Hallingbury Village Hall and and at Howe Street near Chelmsford.

The new closures come on top of the 4,000 that have already closed under Labour since they came to power in 1997 and 3,500 that were axed by the previous Conservative government.

Deputy Leader of Uttlesford District Council's Liberal Democrat opposition group, Councillor Andrew Yarwood said, "The Government's attitude towards Post Offices is shocking. It appears they are washing their hands of the network, with little or no regard to the effect on those local residents some of whom cannot get about easily. Our Post Offices are a fundamental part of our rural community and as such should not be regarded as a resource that can be discarded, just because it doesn't fit into central government thinking."

Councillor Yarwood continued "While the other parties nationally cry crocodile tears, the Liberal Democrats are the only party with a fully funded set of policies to keep our Post Offices open. We would keep Post Office Ltd in the public sector but split it away from the Royal Mail. We would then raise £2 billion from the sale of a minority of shares in Royal Mail and invest this money in the Post Office network, to enable it to grow. We would also set branches free from the red tape which stops them from trying out new business opportunities."

Concerned Saffron Walden resident Barbara Hughes said "I urge local residents to take part in the public consultation, which will end on 19th November, by visiting any of the post offices involved in the closure programme. Successive Labour and Conservative governments have milked the Post Office dry, creaming off profits into their general fund. It's about time they took their hands out of the till."

Please take part in the post office consultation by writing to: National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM. No stamp is required. Alternatively you can e-mail consultation@postoffice.co.uk