KEETCH CALLS FOR MORE PROTECTION FOR POST OFFICES

2.20.02pm GMT Thu 9th Dec 2004

New research compiled by the Liberal Democrats reveals the shocking number of post offices closed in the last 5 years. Nearly 2,200 post offices have closed since 2000, a reduction of 12%. This has severely affected many people's access to vital Post Office services.

Hereford's Lib Dem MP Paul Keetch also revealed that in the Hereford constituency, 7 post offices have closed since Oct 1999. As of April 2004, 40 post offices remain.

"Our post office network has been under pressure for years", said Mr Keetch.

"Nationally between 1981 and 1997, the Conservatives closed 3,334 post offices. Since coming to power, Labour has closed 2,543. In the Midlands alone, the number of post offices fell from 2431 in March 1987 to 2144 in March 1997. We have to stop these closures.

"The closure of the local post office has an immense effect on the surrounding community, especially on more vulnerable people like pensioners and the disabled who so often depend on its services.

"Government policies like Direct Payment of benefits have significantly undermined post offices as viable businesses. Many sub postmasters have lost up to 40% of their income from this measure alone. The Government's solution has been to pour massive subsidies into the rural network to keep it afloat while introducing a programme of closures in urban areas.

"This is not the way to secure the future of the network. Post offices need to be able to offer new services and products that will attract people back into their local branch and replace the income Government policies have drained away.

"The message to the Government is: use post offices or lose the network."

Liberal Democrats believe that sub-Post Offices are the lifeblood of communities in both rural and urban areas, particularly when they are combined with other services, such as the local shop. When the local Post Office closes other services often follow, which can have extremely detrimental repercussions for the community.

Post Offices have a vital role to play for the more vulnerable groups in society - the over 65s, disabled people, carers, single parents, unemployed people and those without a car who find it difficult to use public transport. Closures affect these people more than any other members of society.