14 December 2006
Commons' Statement reveals around 2,500 Post Office Closures.
Cotswolds MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, today reacted angrily to the statement on the future of Post Offices from Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling. In it, Mr. Darling conceded that some “rationalisation” would be necessary for the network. This will mean closure for many Post Office, hitting rural areas, like the Cotswolds, hardest.
Estimates put the number of Post Offices that will be forced to close, as a result of this decision, at around 2,500.
Mr Clifton-Brown said:
“This announcement demonstrates my worst fears for Post Offices in Gloucestershire. It will destroy many businesses, simply because the Government does not have a long-term vision for the future of the Post Office network. The Government needs to recognise that if the local Post Office closes, this is often the last remaining shop in the village. A van for a couple of hours a week is no replacement for an open Post Office.”
Mr Clifton-Brown added:
“This decision is based on how many Post Offices the Government think they can get away with closing, rather than on a real business case or on an understanding of what the consumers want and need. Mr Darling’s vision is to have fewer Post Offices, providing fewer services to fewer people. I have campaigned to save Longborough Post Office and will gladly campaign to preserve any Post Office that this Government have threatened today.”
Photo: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown outside Longborough Post Office
Cotswolds MP, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, today reacted angrily to the statement on the future of Post Offices from Trade and Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling. In it, Mr. Darling conceded that some “rationalisation” would be necessary for the network. This will mean closure for many Post Office, hitting rural areas, like the Cotswolds, hardest.
Estimates put the number of Post Offices that will be forced to close, as a result of this decision, at around 2,500.
Mr Clifton-Brown said:
“This announcement demonstrates my worst fears for Post Offices in Gloucestershire. It will destroy many businesses, simply because the Government does not have a long-term vision for the future of the Post Office network. The Government needs to recognise that if the local Post Office closes, this is often the last remaining shop in the village. A van for a couple of hours a week is no replacement for an open Post Office.”
Mr Clifton-Brown added:
“This decision is based on how many Post Offices the Government think they can get away with closing, rather than on a real business case or on an understanding of what the consumers want and need. Mr Darling’s vision is to have fewer Post Offices, providing fewer services to fewer people. I have campaigned to save Longborough Post Office and will gladly campaign to preserve any Post Office that this Government have threatened today.”
Photo: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown outside Longborough Post Office
