LIB DEMS URGE RESIDENTS TO OPPOSE POST OFFICE CLOSURE PLANS
Flintshire Lib Dems are urging local residents facing post office closures in their area to lobby local politicians and respond to the Post Office before the 15th September deadline opposing the proposed closures.
The announcement on Tuesday means that around 20 per cent of the county’s post offices face the axe unless a strong case can be made for the Post Office to rethink their plans.
The news comes only days after a House of Commons select committee warned that outreach services, set up to fill the gaps left by the closures, will fail because of a lack of cash.
Outreach facilities are being proposed in 14 communities across the region to offset the impact of closures but this latest report highlights that funding for them to be viable may be inadequate.
And the Lib Dems accused the Labour government – and local Labour MP’s – of being determined to destroy the Post Office network across Flintshire.
Cllr. Robin Baker, Leader of Flintshire County Council’s Lib Dem group, said: “Post Offices provide a vital service, particularly to vulnerable people and rural areas. When they close, other services often follow suit, with devastating consequences for the community.
“Mobile offices are being offered by the Post Office, but these wholly inadequate replacements will not provide anything like the kind of service people in rural areas rely on.
“Outreach services are a poor relation to proper post offices. The Government seems to think it can get post offices on the cheap this way. However, even outreach services need to be properly funded.
“At this rate many areas will end up with no post office services whatsoever. Ministers are presiding over the managed decline of our post offices.
“Local MPs – including Delyn’s MP David Hanson - have let down local residents by voting against a motion in the House of Commons in March that would have brought an end to the closure programme in Flintshire.
“I would urge everyone affected by these proposals to write to MP’s David Hanson and Mark Tami, lobby their local councillor and write to the Post Office before the 15th September to let their views be known,” he added.
Responses to the consultation should be sent to
Steve Geraty
Network Development Manager
C/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk
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