MP urges PO think again (From Tivyside Advertiser)

MP urges PO think again

10:03am Monday 19th May 2008 in News

Speaking on the day of the deadline for submissions to the Post Office closure programme consultation Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has urged the Post Office to think again over plans to reduce services across the County.

Mark Williams has sent 13 submissions to the consultation programme, along with the thousands of signatures collected opposing the closures and downgrading of Post Offices across Ceredigion.

There will now be a three-week period in which the Post Office will consider the objections made by the local community before they make their final decision on which Post Offices should remain open.

Commenting, Mark Williams said: "People in Ceredigion couldn't have done any more to save our Post Offices. I am proud of the effort that everyone has put in to try and protect their local communities, and I hope that the Post Office will give the many objections they have received due consideration.

"From public meetings, to submissions, to demos, this campaign has united communities in their dismay at cuts to the services. Whatever decisions are now made we know that Post Offices in Ceredigion will be closing, despite the opposition of vast numbers of local residents.

"This whole process is fundamentally flawed - we know that even if we do manage to save one of our Post Offices it will just mean another one closing elsewhere. This is hardly the way to measure the value of a Post Office to the local community.

"The Government's scheme to close 2500 Post Offices will strike at the heart of rural communities, not just in Ceredigion, but across the rest of the UK too.

"However I still hold out the hope that we can save one or more of the threatened Post Offices. We've made the arguments - now the Post Office just has to listen.

"I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond to the consultation, and I hope that effort will be rewarded."