The Conservative Party is to table a motion to be debated in the House of Commons on Wednesday 19th of March which calls for the suspension of the post office closure programme. The motion will highlight public concerns about the post office closure programme, in particular...
- the impact on elderly and disabled people and dissatisfaction about the way the consultation process has worked;
- the Government's 'access criteria', which have been held responsible by many for recommending the closure of profitable and popular post offices;
- and the need and many opportunities to bring new business into the post office network.
Commenting, Alan Duncan, Shadow Secretary for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, said:
"We understand the widespread public dismay about the plans to close 2,500 post offices, particularly as the ones to be closed seem to be chosen for their geography rather than their viability.
"Across the country, MPs and Parliamentary Candidates have been campaigning to highlight the failings of the closure plans and the consultation process. We think it is right that, in the light of all the complaints and concerns, Parliament should now call a halt to the process.
"This has been a horribly botched exercise and there will be massive public support for the closure programme to be suspended whilst every aspect of it is re-assessed."
Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest's Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman added:
"The Government's proposal to close 2,500 post offices is hugely offensive. It is as if they have no idea at all about how important these facilities are to local communities and I am intent to put an end to these service cuts in Wyre Forest.
"Extrapolating the proposals implies a closing of 4 more post offices in Wyre Forest and I think this is just not fair."
However, Worcestershire based services may have a nasty double hit.
"Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who is MP for Redditch, has stated that she will do everything she can to stop any post office closures in her constituency, yet she was in the Government that proposed this in the first place and presumably had a part in the decision to go ahead with these closures. She knows that under the proposals, where an area has a reduced number of closures, the neighbouring areas could face an increased number of closures to balance the overall picture. She knows that if she is successful in her local campaign, Wyre Forest and other Worcestershire constituencies may see more than their fair share of closures. If she wants to stop closures in Redditch, she should reverse the Government's decision: not punish people for being her neighbour."
The consultation period for Worcestershire is due to start this August.