MORE POST OFFICE CLOSURES COULD SOON FOLLOW (Eleanor Burnham )

Cymraeg
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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

MORE POST OFFICE CLOSURES COULD SOON FOLLOW

October 10, 2008 9:00 AM

POST OFFICE CARD ACCOUNT "ESSENTIAL" TO MAINTAIN NETWORK

Only days after the news that 52 post offices will close across North Wales - including nine in Wrexham - Lib Dems are warning that further closures could soon be just around the corner.

Lib Dem Assembly Member Eleanor Burnham and Wrexham Parliamentary spokesman Dr Tom Rippeth are both urging the government to award the new Post Office card account contract (POCA) to Post Office Ltd to protect the network from being further decimated.

The current card is used by 4m people every week to access pensions and benefits at the Post Office.

Eleanor Burnham, Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales added: "It is astonishing that the Government seems intent on destroying a service which is of such great value to so many people across my region.

"The post office card account offers an accessible and affordable way for thousands of people in the area to receive their benefits, yet the Government is proposing to axe it.

"Without the vital revenue stream from the post office card account, the Government is further undermining the long term viability of the post office network meaning that even more than the 3,500 post offices already closed by Labour will be put out of business."

Dr Rippeth said: "It is essential to maintain confidence and support for the Post Office network that this contract is renewed and the decision is taken quickly.

"After the disappointing outcome of the current round of closures up to 25% more of local branches could be closed if the government removes sub-postmasters' rights to handle state pensions and benefits payments.

"The Government must pay far greater heed to the effects the closure of post offices have on a community - nearly 8 out of 10 people feel that the closure of their local post office would present a loss of essential local services.

"This is yet another example of an over centralised Government entirely out of touch with local communities."

ENDS