Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillors welcome support for Post Offices

7.17.21pm GMT Sat 27th Jan 2007

Peter Black, Nick Tregoning and the Postmaster of Pennard Post Office, William Smith

Welsh Liberal Democrat councillors Peter Black and Nick Tregoning today welcomed the vote by Swansea Council to back their motion slamming the closure of Post Offices by the UK Labour Government, and calling for a campaign to oppose them locally.

The motion calls for the branch closure programme to be scrapped and for investment in Post Offices. It also calls for a cross-party campaign to fight the cuts. It was passed despite a wrecking amendment from Labour and the Conservatives

"I am delighted that this motion was passed," said Councillor Black; who is also the Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales West. "Fighting to save the post office network is something that has united people of all political parties and none in Wales. It was our intention to ask the Council to make its own opposition crystal clear, and to seek to involve all the MPs and AMs in the city in fighting this senseless policy."

"The only sour note in the debate were the repeated attempts of Swansea Labour, together with their new-found Conservative allies, to both try and wreck the motion and stop any campaign," added Councillor Tregoning. "We have already lost 20 post offices in Swansea since 1999. If Labour and their Tory allies were truly serious about building strong local communities, then they would oppose the destruction of the local post office network. In the event, their attempt was voted down."

Ends

Note to Editors:

The text of the motion is reprinted below.

Post Office motion

This Council regrets the loss of twenty Post Offices between 1999 and 2005 in the area covered by the City and County of Swansea, and notes with concern the announcement by the Government on 14th December 2006 of Ministers' plans to close 2500 Post Office branches across the UK.

This Council further notes the social importance of Post Offices to the well being of both communities and individuals in Swansea.

This Council believes that the recently announced closure programme is unnecessary and calls on the government to:

1. End the branch closure programme.

2. Remove the Royal Mail restrictions on the Post Office to open up further business opportunities for the network.

3. Stop removing Government business from Post Offices.

4. Carry out a review of which additional Government functions could be carried out through Post Offices.

5. Invest in the Post Office network.

This Council welcomes the decision of the Government to withdraw its previous proposals to completely scrap the Post Office Card Account (POCA) but calls on Ministers to ensure that any replacement POCA should be open freely to all pensioners and benefit recipients who want one.

This Council calls on the Government to avoid putting pressure on current and future POCA users to switch to having benefits and pensions paid directly into bank accounts.

This Council calls on the MPs and AMs for Gower, Swansea East, and Swansea West and the Regional AMs for South Wales West to lobby Ministers to save the Post Office from gradual demolition and protect this vital service for the people. This Council further calls on the MPs and AMs to report back to this council on their actions.

Proposed by: Councillor Nick Tregoning

Seconded by: Councillor Peter Black