PO Closures ‘too soon’ says MP (From Tivyside Advertiser)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TS NEWS to 80360, or email
us
PO Closures ‘too soon’ says MP
1:06pm Wednesday 29th October 2008 in News
Ceredigion’s MP Mark Williams has today expressed his concern that Post Office closures may have been premature after it was announced that the Post Office made a profit in the first half of 2008.
As part of their half-year trading statement, Royal Mail revealed that Post Office Limited made an operating profit of £28 million, compared to a loss of £7 million in the corresponding period last year.
Commenting, Mark Williams said: "These figures are based on a period when most of the branches on the hit list in the Network Change Programme remained in operation, so it shows that Post Office Limited as constituted is capable of making a profit.
"I see Post Offices as more than just an entry on a balance sheet, but given that the Government’s insistence on pushing the closure programme through was based on the losses being made, this news suggests they may have been premature.
"Post Offices have continually been stripped of revenue raising services, but despite the Government’s best efforts they are still widely used and provide vital services to many communities."
