East Surrey MP, Peter Ainsworth, has met with postmaster Vicky Johal and local Councillors to launch a campaign to keep the Balcombe Road Post Office open.
After months of speculation, and much to the dismay of local residents, it has been announced that the Balcombe Road post office has been earmarked for closure, subject to a six week public consultation, as part of the Government’s policy to close 2,500 Post Offices across the country.
The Government have opened Royal Mail up to much greater competition whilst denying them the freedom they need to compete effectively by limiting the products and services they provide.
Peter said: “Post Offices are a vital part of the social and economic fabric of our local communities. When a Post Office is forced to close, everyone is affected. People will be forced travel further to get to their local post office, and have to wait in longer queues when they get there. These extra distances will be a burden for all of us, and will notably inconvenience the elderly and the disabled.
He went on to say:
“It is absurd that Vicky could be forced to close her post office against her will, especially given the plans to develop over 700 new homes near her shop. Ms Johal is an asset to the local community, contributing a valued service from which we all benefit; it would be a real tragedy if this closure went ahead
“I urge all local residents to participate fully in the public consultation, and to sign the petition on my website. I have also placed a Post Office survey in my latest ‘Westminster Report’ which all constituents should receive shortly. The more responses I receive the stronger we can make this campaign!”
Notes to Editor:
• There are approximately 14,200 post office branches across the country.
• The Government have already closed approximately 4,000 since 1997, and plan to close a further 2,500 over the next two years.
• There are 19 post offices in total in the East Surrey constituency. The Post Office on Station Road East is also earmarked for closure.
• The public consultation is from 29 January until 10 March.
• The online petition can be found at www.peterainsworth.com
• The Conservatives have put forward a Post Office Action Plan which includes:
o encouraging local councils to consider opening ‘council counters’ in local branches
o giving sub-post offices greater freedom to offer a wider range of commercial products
o pushing for more post offices to be ‘one stop shops’ for central Government services.
|
