Post Offices campaign progresses but they suffer ANOTHER body blow

12.33.50am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Apr 2006

Tom Smith-Hughes collects petition signatures

A campaign to support local Post Offices has clocked up an early success but these same Post Offices were left reeling by the latest national announcement. Local Liberal Democrats launched a campaign to save the Post Office Card Account two weeks ago and have already collected hundreds of signatures.

This special account was created for people who collect pensions and benefits at their local Post Office. The Post Offices rely on the handling fee they are paid in order to support their business. However, the Government has said they will close the account in four years time.

Hilary Steen, Post Office Manager at Melbourne Parade, was the first Post Office to collect signatures on the Lib Dem petition and collected over 400 in the first week. Her local County Councillor, Lib Dem Tom Smith-Hughes, said, "Well over 4,000 local residents use this card account. Every time someone uses the card means more business to help sustain the local post offices and the Government's decision to stop it is a severe attack on them."

Hot on the heels of this announcement, Post Offices had to face up to the BBC ending its deal with the Post Office to sell TV Licences over the counter. Stephen Robinson (co-ordinator of the Chelmsford Liberal Democrat Post Offices campaign and parliamentary candidate 2005) said, "This decision is yet another body blow to post offices. The Government has removed the rural post office guarantee, are stopping the Post Office Card Account, and now Post Offices will lose TV licence sales. Chelmsford has already lost half its local branches in three years; now others could be under threat from these latest cuts.

"The new Lib Dem policy for Post Offices would provide £2 billion of investment for new technology and diversification. Both Labour and the Conservatives have let the Post Office network down and closed thousands; only the Lib Dems can save local Post Offices."

Related Links:

Download our petition and ask your friends to sign it (PDF format).

More about Tom Smith-Hughes.

More about Stephen Robinson.