Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Post Office Closures

Yet again the government is set to damage communities across the country by slashing the number of post offices.

Alistair Darling MP, the Trade and Industry Secretary, has indicated that the government will not maintain the subsidy necessary by post offices, despite the fact that many are struggling because the government has taken away key contracts, such as paying pensions.

The number of post offices has been slashed from 22,000 to just over 14,000 and Labour wants that figure reduced considerably.

I have always been a staunch supporter of post offices as I recognise the vital role they play in communities. Many pensioners cannot travel miles and the loss of their local post office can bring hardship and exclusion.

In 2003, the government forced pensioners and benefit claimants to receive their payments via bank accounts. Those that couldn't have a bank account had the option of having a card account, but the government now plans to scrap the card accounts in 2010, putting the post office network under even greater threat and forcing pensioners to do business the government's way, not the pensioners' own preferred way.

Chester has had more than its fair share of post office closures and my Conservative colleagues and I will fiercely oppose the closure of any more. If you share my concerns and oppose post office closures, let me know by e-mailing me at paul@pauloffer.co.uk.

Many thanks.

Paul

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Paul,
It probably wont come as a surprise that I oppose the Post Office closures, but perhaps I should register a prejudicial interest!

Mike Roberts

Paul Offer said...

As could most members of our communities Mike.