9 March 2007
New services should be provided by Post Offices under threat.
On Friday 9 March, Cotswolds MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown visited Blockley Post Office and store where he met almost 100 local residents, the village Post Master, Ben Coley. Mr Clifton-Brown pledged his support for the campaign to keep the Post Office open. This year the obligation on the Post Office to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices ends; meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, is reviewing the £150m government support for the rural post office network.
Mr Clifton-Brown said:
“I will make every effort to save Blockley Post Office. The government must recognise the vital local services that rural Post Offices provide. In January, I made a speech in the Sub Post Offices debate in Parliament; where I highlighted that the Government ought to let Sub Post Offices like Blockley offer increased services, including welfare payments, internet access and payment of Council Tax. Throughout the Cotswolds, an area with many elderly people and sparse public transport, rural post offices are the only local shop or service, they are crucial to our communities' survival. I note that utility companies are now charging for those who chose to pay their bills in store, rather than Direct Debit, yet, remarkably, Post Offices like Blockley have continued to thrive; despite governments decisions to change how welfare payments are made, and TV licenses are issued."
Mr Clifton-Brown added:
"I am not at all surprised by the depth of feeling in Blockley, and heartened that so many local residents care very deeply about their local services. I will be writing to John Prescott to urge the government to put into place long-term support to safeguard the future of rural post offices. We will fight this government's sustained attack on our rural communities and I will continue to be a fierce advocate for our way of life in Parliament."
On Friday 9 March, Cotswolds MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown visited Blockley Post Office and store where he met almost 100 local residents, the village Post Master, Ben Coley. Mr Clifton-Brown pledged his support for the campaign to keep the Post Office open. This year the obligation on the Post Office to prevent any avoidable closures of rural post offices ends; meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, is reviewing the £150m government support for the rural post office network.
Mr Clifton-Brown said:
“I will make every effort to save Blockley Post Office. The government must recognise the vital local services that rural Post Offices provide. In January, I made a speech in the Sub Post Offices debate in Parliament; where I highlighted that the Government ought to let Sub Post Offices like Blockley offer increased services, including welfare payments, internet access and payment of Council Tax. Throughout the Cotswolds, an area with many elderly people and sparse public transport, rural post offices are the only local shop or service, they are crucial to our communities' survival. I note that utility companies are now charging for those who chose to pay their bills in store, rather than Direct Debit, yet, remarkably, Post Offices like Blockley have continued to thrive; despite governments decisions to change how welfare payments are made, and TV licenses are issued."
Mr Clifton-Brown added:
"I am not at all surprised by the depth of feeling in Blockley, and heartened that so many local residents care very deeply about their local services. I will be writing to John Prescott to urge the government to put into place long-term support to safeguard the future of rural post offices. We will fight this government's sustained attack on our rural communities and I will continue to be a fierce advocate for our way of life in Parliament."
