KEETCH CHAIRS MEETING FOR JOINT RESPONSE TO POST OFFICE CLOSURES PROPOSALS

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 2nd Sep 2008

Paul Keetch MP and Sarah Carr with Save Our Post Offices petition

The announcement of proposed Post Office closures across Herefordshire prompted Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, to call for a non-political joint response to the consultation and host a meeting of the group leaders on Herefordshire Council, Post Office Limited and Postwatch which took place today. Bill Wiggin, MP for Leominster, had also been invited but was unable to attend due to parliamentary business overseas taking precedence.

The Network Change Proposals identified 20 Post Offices across Herefordshire that are affected - 7 in Hereford and South Herefordshire and 13 in North Herefordshire. The plans were made public on 27 August with a consultation period running until 7 October.

"Post Office Limited explained the procedure they have gone through to come up with this decision, and what would happen now", said Mr Keetch. "They confirmed that changes can be made, but accept that this is rare.

"I asked if they would look at a scenario where a post office was considered for closure but a nearby postmaster privately wanted to retire, if he could shut instead? They agreed to consider this under the terms laid down for the programme.

"I was glad to have their confirmation that whilst Tudorville Post Office in Ross will close, the following day an urban outreach trial will begin. The success of this trial will very much depend on how many local people use it. In simple terms - If they don't use it, they will lose it.

"The one closure in my constituency however that causes me greatest concern is Redhill in Hereford city. That part of South Wye has been identified as deprived. It has a large elderly population, and many households are without cars. They can't get to their post offices locally easily, so instead are likely to travel into Hereford to use the already crowded main Post Office in St Peter's Square. Only this morning there was a 19 minute wait to be served - with only 3 out of the 10 serving positions open. If Redhill closes this will put more pressure on the main office and at the very least Post Office Limited must look at making improvements there.

"I have also asked the Council to look closely at the whole Post Office network in Herefordshire, not just those identified for closure. We must produce a fully rounded approach to the proposals and this will also be helpful in longer term planning.

"All present agreed that this morning's meeting had been productive and had put things into perspective," the MP added