Lib Dems Call on Government to Stop Post Office Closures (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)

Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats <info@oxwablibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems Call on Government to Stop Post Office Closures

November 1, 2006 12:55 PM

Liberal Democrat County and City Councillor Jean Fooks is asking the County Council to write to Government asking them to take action to protect the post office network, reverse its decision to close the Post Office Card Account and to continue its subsidy to rural post offices. In a motion to next Tuesday's County Council meeting, Jean points out that 300 post offices have closed every year since 1986, that 23,400 pensioners and benefit recipients in Oxfordshire use the Post Office Card Account and that the £150 million subsidy for rural post offices is due to end in 2008.

Jean said, "Post offices are the lifeblood of our communities in both rural and urban areas, and they are particularly valued by some of the most vulnerable people in Oxfordshire - those without bank accounts, the elderly, disabled people, carers, unemployed people and those without a car. If your local post office closes, and you have to travel some distance to the next to collect your pension or benefits, this is terribly difficult. And then, even when you get there, from 2010 you will not be able to use the Post Office Card Account to pay your money into - you will be forced to have a bank account. And we know that banks are also closing branches. The government needs to rethink the decision on the Card Account and commit to saving sub-post offices."