POST OFFICE QUEUES PROVE BRANCH CLOSURES WERE WRONG (Paul Harrod)

POST OFFICE QUEUES PROVE BRANCH CLOSURES WERE WRONG

December 16, 2008 12:00 AM

Long queues at many of Bristol's Post Offices demonstrates how wrong the Government was to close more of Bristol's Post Office branches, says Paul Harrod, Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Bristol North West.

With Christmas approaching many residents are queuing for long periods to send letters overseas or to weigh parcels. Other regular users are having to wait for longer periods than usual.

"We have surveyed residents in Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym and Horfield who used to use the Post Office on Wellington Hill West and they are reporting much longer queues at alternative branches" says Paul Harrod.

"My concern is that irregular users of the Post Office will be so put off by the long queues that they won't use them again if they can help it. It is all part of the Government's strategy of managed decline. Instead of investing in the Post Office network and restoring core parts of the business such as pension and benefit payments, the Government is closing branches and effectively forcing people to queue at peak times.

"Then when custom falls further they will use it as an excuse to close more branches."

In Bristol the Liberal Democrats proposed an all-party working group to ensure that Bristol was better prepared to fight further threats of branch closures. They also proposed some form of 'outreach' service, whereby Council-run buildings such as libraries or community centres might have a very limited form of Post Office service, especially in neighbourhoods most affected by recent branch closures.

"Both of these ideas were rejected by the Labour Council" says Paul. "It is a shame as we all need to work together on this. It is all very well protesting for the cameras when closures are proposed, but more coordinated action now means that Bristol stands a far higher chance of resisting Post Office cuts in the future."