MEP ANGER AT POST OFFICE CLOSURES ACROSS VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

4.35.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd Jul 2008

Shropshire Euro-MP Liz Lynne has reacted angrily to news that 14 Post Offices across Shropshire are to be closed despite a massive protest campaign by residents, staff and local councillors.

The closures announced yesterday are part of the government's wider post office plan which is likely to see up to 2500 branches closed nationwide.

Liz Lynne MEP, who formally objected to a number of the closure proposals, including Marton, also praised the vigorous local campaigns by residents and councillors in many parts of the county to defend their local Post Offices.

She said: "The good news is that thanks to the very vigorous all-party campaigns run by residents and energetic local councillors like Roger Evans in Greenfields and Heather Kidd in Marton, the Post Office has been forced to reconsider some of the most outrageous closure plans.

"But looking at the list, the news for the rest of the county is pretty bleak. It is reassuring that the outreach service in Marton will be hosted in the existing shop and I understand a similar arrangement is planned in Lydbury, but for many other places - such as Worthen - this is not yet the case.

"14 post offices at the heart of vulnerable communities are being closed, replaced by a van appearing for a few hours a week. When the service is not operating no-one will know it is there. This is a sad day for the rural county I represent.

"Of course we need to run our Post Offices efficiently but the government should develop the network as one stop shops for a range of community services - in a world where oil is fast approaching $150 per barrel it is madness to force people to travel even longer distances to access basic services."