POST OFFICE TO CLOSE 30 JULY (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

POST OFFICE TO CLOSE 30 JULY

June 11, 2007 11:38 AM

Local MP Martin Horwood has finally received official notification of the closure of the sub-Post Office at Edinburgh Place, weeks after local campaigners had already got wind of the announcement. Martin has already led a local protest and received a local petition against the closure. Post Office Limited have confirmed a closure date of 30 July.

"This confirms what we already knew," said Martin "but the letter from Post Office Limited contains a glimmer of hope. They have promised me they will continue to work for a solution that will provide a Post Office presence in the community in the Edinburgh Place area. They say they are clear the closure should be temporary. This is promising news and gives us room to keep campaigning for a Post Office in the area. "

"Can I say thank you to everyone who has signed the local petition so far and urge anyone who hasn't signed to do so if they get the chance. This is an important community service. The Post Office tell us more and more people are going online to access services and getting payments put direct into their bank account. And they say you can go to the Post Office in town instead of to small local sub-Post Offices. But not everyone has access to the net or to a bank account. And not everyone can get into the town centre so easily. The Post Office should be available to everyone."

"The precedent this sets for the town centre Post Office is not good either. If Post Offices based in commercial outlets like McColl's in Edinburgh Place can be closed so suddenly, what guarantee do we have the main Post Office won't be just as vulnerable when it moves into WHSmith? When I asked the minister responsible this question in Parliament, he couldn't give any guarantee at all."