Labour Post Office axe will fall hardest on vulnerable across North Wales

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Labour Post Office axe will fall hardest on vulnerable across North Wales - Burnham

May 17, 2007 1:32 PM

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, has warned that Labour's axing of 2,500 Post Offices across the UK will hit older people and vulnerable rural communities hardest.

Ms Burnham's comments come in anticipation of today's announcement by Labour Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling. He is expected to tell Parliament today that plans to restructure the Post Office network will go ahead. The closure programme will hit both rural and urban offices but it is feared that rural communities across North Wales will suffer the hardest blow.

Ms Burnham said: "The issue of Post Office closures has been at the heart of much of my party's campaigning on behalf of local communities. Cuts in the network will leave many vulnerable people stranded and undermine the economy of those local communities that are affected.

"It seems that Labour ministers in Westminster are ignoring the feeling of the public here in Wales. Throughout my region there have been strong voices raised against the closure of Post Offices that provide the most basic and vital services to their communities.

"We will still be made to wait and go through another round of consultation before we will know the final impact of the cuts in North Wales, but the outlook doesn't look good. Since 1999 North Wales has lost 55 Post Offices to closure, with communities across Anglesey being hit the hardest losing 13. Overall, this means North Wales has lost nearly a quarter of all the 235 closed Welsh Post Office branches since 1999.

"Instead of beginning yet another round of cuts, the Government would do well to adopt Liberal Democrats plans for the Post Office network which would mean an additional investment of two billion pounds, safeguarding the future of local offices and our communities for years.

"Liberal Democrat plans would also retain the Post Office card account for benefit and pension payments and put in place a legal requirement for the Government to retain the local Post Office network. It is these sorts of positive measures we need, not more cuts."

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