Post Office Closures Completely Unnecessary (Shepway Liberal Democrats)

Post Office Closures Completely Unnecessary

October 2, 2007 4:32 PM

Post Office Counters Ltd Post Office plans to axe 2,500 Post Offices by the end of 2008 came home to Folkestone and Hythe today as they announced the first 180 Post Offices to face closure. Of those, FIVE are in Folkestone and Hythe, adding to the TEN lost in the last 8 years.

The Post Offices in Folkestone and Hythe named as facing closure are:

Enbrook Valley, 99 Enbrook Valley, Folkestone CT20 3NE
Littlestone, 4 Warren Road, New Romney TN28 8PN
Saltwood, The Fountain Stores, Saltwood, Hythe CT21 4PS
Seabrook Road, 246 Seabrook Road, Hythe CT21 5RQ
Shorncliffe, 2 Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone CT20 3EF

Local Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Lynne Beaumont was furious at the news. She said:

"Over the last 8 years Folkestone and Hythe has already lost 10 post offices and under this new wave of cuts we facing losing another 5. From 35 Post offices in the Constituency in 1999, if these closures are allowed to go ahead, we'll be down to just 20. This simply has to stop.

"Last year the value of services withdrawn by the government equalled £168 million, whist Post Offices Ltd made an operating loss of £111 million. The Liberal Democrats are the only party with a plan to save the Post Office."

The Liberal Democrats in Folkestone and Hythe and nationally are committed to fighting for our Post offices. You can learn more about the campaign at www.libdems.org.uk/postoffices

Lynne Beaumont added:

"The Post Office in their press release they have 'reached these proposals after engaging with, and taking input from the independent consumer watchdog on postal services, Postwatch, and from all local authorities within the county'.

"I will be asking Shepway Council as matter of urgency when they were asked about these proposals, and what their responses was. I would be amazed and horrified if they had supported these proposals: I for one had not heard of them. I believe this consultation to be a sham."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Secretary, Lembit Öpik MP said:

"These closures are completely unnecessary. It is obvious that there are ways of sustaining post offices without breaking the bank. What's missing is the Government's willingness to do so.

"What is the point in consultation if the views of accountants are more important than those of the customer?

"Once again vital social services are being lost to communities for the sake of money and because of an assessment process that takes little account of the effects of the changes being made."

The six-week public consultation period for the Kent Area Plan begins on 2nd October and the Post office say all representations should be received by 12th November 2007..

To express your views:

Write to Gary Herbert, Network Development Manager, C/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM
Email consultation@postoffice.co.uk
or phone the Customer Helpline on 08457 22 33 44.

Shepway Liberal Democrats