Local communities and post offices betrayed
January 28, 2008 12:00 PM
Commenting on today's news that Mid Sussex is to lose all 4 of the sub-post offices under consideration in the latest round of closures, local Lib Dem campaigner Serena Tierney said:
"This is top-down government at its worst. These are profitable businesses that have massive support in the local community. The only reason for closing them is to drive their business to the main post offices. It won't work because the main offices can't service all the customers who use the sub-post offices. The communities will lose these services completely.
"Worse still, the closure these post offices will almost certainly result in the loss of other local businesses that depend on them to drive trade their way. Another dozen or so local businesses face possible closure as a result of this decision.
"Yet again, 'consultation' means nothing of the sort. It is just a tick-box exercise. Thousands of local people signed petitions supporting these post offices to try and save them. Each is profitable. Each has other businesses depending on their existence. Those who will suffer most from these closures are those least well able to cope with them: elderly, sick and disabled people; carers and those on low incomes. Once again, the government has pushed through a short-sighted measure that serves no benefit to society and widens still further the inequality that dogs our country under this government.
"It is a sad day for the communities in Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill that are losing services that they fought for in the belief that the government would listen. It is a sad day for the owners of the post offices who have worked hard to deliver much-valued local services. They have all been betrayed."
ENDS
Notes to editors follow
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The following numbers of signatures were on petitions submitted by Mid Sussex Lib Dems in the consultation :
a. HH Franklands Village - 1179
b. HH - New England Road - 1014
c. BH - Lower Church Road - 2080
d. BH - St John's Common - 878
2. MSLD submission to consultation available on request
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