Post offices closures provoke public outcry - Stunell

11.27.27am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jun 2008

Plans to close more than a quarter of Stockport's post offices will hit the most vulnerable, according to local MP, Andrew Stunell.

Under the Government's 'Network Change Programme', 67 post offices are scheduled for closure in Greater Manchester. In Stockport 27% of sub post-offices are under threat, including Bredbury, Rose Hill and Strines in Mr Stunell's Hazel Grove constituency.

Now the Hazel Grove MP is asking local residents to have their say about closures of post offices in their local area. He has already met residents and customers at each post office, and is now calling for a big response to the Post Office consultation, which runs for another three weeks.

Commenting, Mr Stunell said:

"Seven post offices have already been closed in my Hazel Grove constituency since 1997, now they plan to cut another four.

"Post offices in our area have a vital role in sustaining local shops, as well as the convenience they provide for local people.

"Many of my constituents will now have to travel much further to get to their nearest post office. For the less mobile and for the worst off that extra journey is more than just an inconvenience, it is a real hardship.

"That's why the Government should tell the Post Office to scrap the closure plan. A strong local campaign over the next few weeks is the first step."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For more information about Andrew Stunell's campaign and to sign the petition, please see:

http://www.andrewstunell.org.uk/pages/Post-office-campaign.html

2. Andrew Stunell has signed the following Early Day Motion 1749 calling for a halt to the Post Office Network Change Programme in Manchester:

POST OFFICE CLOSURES IN MANCHESTER

That this House condemns the Labour Government's decision to close 2,500 post offices and the recent announcement that 67 post offices across Greater Manchester and High Peak are threatened with closure, including five in Manchester; recognises that local post offices provide a vital service to their communities and play a valuable role in the sustainability of local shops; notes with concern that the Post Office has failed to justify why specific branches have been selected for closure; and calls upon all local people from across the region to campaign against the closures and to lobby the Government to bring the closure programme to a halt.

3. For the Post Office area plan for closures in Greater Manchester, see: ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/po/Greater_Manchester_area_plan_booklet.pdf