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Burstow & Brake - threat of Post Office closures becomes a reality
March 11, 2003 11:30 AM
Local MPs Paul Burstow and Tom Brake today warned that the threat to the post office network in Sutton was turning into a stark reality because of secret piecemeal closures undertaken by the Post Office Plc. Mr Burstow, who called a Parliamentary debate on the issue of the closure of post offices in Sutton, described the closures as unplanned, unstructured and unwanted.
In the debate held yesterday night in the House of Commons, Mr Burstow and Mr Brake highlighted the misleading comments made by the Post Office 6 months ago that Oldfields Road post office was one of the main post offices that could be used by residents following the closure of the Collingwood Road Post Office. Today, the threat of closure now hangs over this very post office that was meant to remain the lifeblood of the older and frailer members of the community.
The debate also revealed that the 'consultation' into the closure of the Oldfields Road post office has been suspended to 'enable Post Office Ltd. to recheck some of the data relating to it.' The 'consultation' into the closure will start from scratch, but the Minister refused to be drawn on when this would happen.
Paul Burstow MP said:-
"When I last raised the issue in an Adjournment debate just over two and a half years ago, the threat hanging over the sub-post office network in my constituency was just that-a threat. Today, the threat is turning into a reality. "
"Post offices are closing in my constituency. The closures are piecemeal and cloaked in secrecy. My constituents have been left with the strong impression that the Post Office is paying lip service to consultation and just going through the motions when it comes to closing post offices. It is time for the Post Office to be much more open and honest about its plans."
Speaking during the debate, Tom Brake MP said:-
"What alarms me is that there are other battles to be fought over future local post office closures but we do not know where the enemy lines are or what the rules of engagement are."
He added, "I shall ask the Minister just one thing - to guarantee that there will be no more post office closures in the Borough until a meaningful consultation process is in place that will allow residents to put their case in a meaningful way."
ENDS
Notes to editors:-
The debate can be read at: http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/cm030310/debtext/30310-36.htm#30310-36_head1
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