Save our Post Offices - Local Lib Dem's Launch On-Line Petition. (Warwick & Leamington Liberal Democrats)

Warwick & Leamington Liberal Democrats <info@warwick-leamington-libdems.org.uk>

Save our Post Offices - Local Lib Dem's Launch On-Line Petition.

December 15, 2006 12:49 PM

Post Office Sign Local Liberal Democrats have launched a petition calling for action to stop Post Office closures. The decision to launch the petition was sparked by the decision of the Blair/Brown government to launch a new wave of Post Office closures.

In 1999 there were 30 Post Offices in Warwick & Leamington, now there are only 19. Even in towns like Warwick & Leamington this is having an impact on people who rely on their local Post Offices. Labour ministers want another 2,500 branches across the country to be closed, in addition to the 4,000 they have closed since they came to power. How many of these will be in our area.

Parliamentary Campaigner Alan Beddow said, "Many residents have already spoken to me about their concerns about Post Offices. Elderly residents in particular have told me of their worries about the Government's decision earlier this year to end the Post Office Card Account, used by many pensioners to collect their state pension."

The Liberal Democrats are the only party with a costed set of policies to keep Post Offices open. At our conference in Spring 2006, we agreed a number of radical policies to protect and improve the Post Office network. We would keep Post Office Ltd in the public sector but split it away from the Royal Mail. We would then raise £2 billion from the sale of a minority of shares in Royal Mail and invest this money in the Post Office network.

This will mean new equipment and new services. The investment will also enable Post Office branches to be the shop front for local government.

"Rather than simply shutting Post Offices, we need to invest in our Post Offices so they can remain at the heart of our communities whilst providing the services people need in the in the 21st Century," Alan added.

That is why we have started an on line petition. If you are worried about the closure of yet more Post Offices in our towns follow the link below. If you would like to comment on this article or are worried about a Post Office near you then please email us.