MP's fury at sham consultation process

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 4th Mar 2004

Hazel Grove MP, Andrew Stunell, has hit out at the sham consultation process on closures of local post offices. Teaming up with neighbouring MP Patsy Calton, Andrew Stunell is pressing the Government to call a halt the post office closure programme and conduct a full inquiry into the 'public consultation' that's left MPs and locals in the dark.

Andrew Stunell said:

"Patsy Calton and I have urged Post Office Ltd to listen to the community and save local post offices. They assured us that the needs of local people and businesses that benefit from the footfall would be safeguarded. But axing Macclesfield Road, Norbury and Jackson Lane branches leaves a great big desert area with no post office within a 11/2 mile radius."

"The public consultation conducted by Post Office Ltd was for just 6 a week period over the quietest time in the year - Christmas."

Andrew Stunell added, "Alarmingly, a letter was sent to Patsy Calton assuring her that they were still considering the fate of certain post offices whilst on the same day an announcement was being made on their closures!

"We're forcing a debate on these closures in Parliament next week because we believe MPs and the public have been hood winked."

ENDS