Local Post Offices face uncertain future after Labour closure decision

Written by Peter Black and published in Seaside News June 2007 on Sun 10th Jun 2007

An announcement by the Labour Trade and Industry Secretary, that he will be pursuing the axing of 2,500 Post Offices across the UK last month has left local offices facing an 18 month wait before they know their fate.

The closure programme will hit both rural and urban offices but it is likely that in Wales, where the majority of the land mass is categorised as rural, the impact will be very severe indeed. Communities in Bridgend could face yet more Post Office closures in addition to the ten that have taken place since 1999.

The number of Post Offices in Wales has declined from 1,607 in 1995 to 1,402 in 1999 and 1,195 today. These closures have caused problems for many communities. Further cuts in the network will leave many vulnerable people stranded and undermine the economy of those local communities that are affected.

Liberal Democrats propose to invest an additional two billion pounds in the Post Office network. We would retain the Post Office card account for benefit and pension payments and have a legal requirement for the Government to retain the local Post Office network. It is these sort of positive measures we need, not more cuts.