Post office closures a 'death knell'

4:50pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A MEMBER of the European Parliament has called the proposed closures of four post offices in Wyre Forest a “death knell” for communities.

The post offices in The Walshes in Stourport, Park Lane in Harvington, Comberton Hill in Kidderminster and Wolverley are on a list of 56 premises across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands that will be the subject of a six-week consultation period on their future.

Liberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands, Liz Lynne, said: “The closing of local services anywhere will inconvenience people but the removal of post offices from a county like Worcestershire could literally be the death knell for some communities.

“Many post offices are also combined with the local shop, which may struggle to survive without the post office counter.

"If they close, many people on low incomes or reduced mobility could be forced to travel much further for vital goods and services they can currently find close to home.

“Local people must make sure their voice is heard and sign petitions where possible. There is an alternative to these closures and the Liberal Democrats have a fully-costed plan which would revive the post office network.”

Mrs Lynne also denied the European Union was involved in the post office closures.

She explained: “Some politicians would have you believe this is all the EU’s fault, but I assure you it is not.

"The closure programme comes directly from a political decision by the UK government to remove services from post office counters and the resultant fall in customers.

“With fuel costs so high, the government should be ensuring that essential services are delivered as locally as possible, not forcing people to travel even further to find them.”