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04Oct07

POST OFFICE CLOSURES

The Post Office has confirmed that the closure of local branches in Stretford and Urmston will start in May 2008 with a public consultation. Under the plans, the Government aims to cut 2,500 branches from the Post Office network.

The cuts are designed to ensure that 95% of people are within six miles of their nearest Post Office branch. Conservatives are calling for the plans to be scrapped and, instead, for new business to be brought into the network.

Since 1999, 3,818 Post Offices have closed. Mark Versallion, prospective Conservative MP, said: "As with most Government-inspired consultations these days, I'm concerned that the decision may have already been taken on which branches are to close in our area.

"When the public consultation starts here, I shall be one of the first to give a very clear 'thumbs down' to any more cuts. The Government is clearly on election alert so this is may be one of the few times they actually listen.

"Post Offices are vital to Stretford and Urmston and I don't believe that a 12-mile round trip is reasonable or realistic for some of the most vulnerable people who live here. The recent report by the National Consumer Council confirmed that the cuts so far have disadvantaged local communities."

Mark Versallion added: "This is a very bad day for many local communities. This is a consequence of the Government refusing to look at ways to bring in new business but instead being determined to manage the decline of the network.

"The next Conservative Government will immediately stop the compulsory closure of profitable sub-post offices and review new ways of bringing additional business into the network, so we can maintain the service rather than merely manage its constant decline."