Councillor Ashworth slams Post Office closures

Councillor Jean Ashworth

Councillor Jean Ashworth launched a campaign to, “Save Our post Offices” by moving a notice of motion at the recent full council meeting. The motion demanded that, ‘This council call on the Government to stop their proposed branch closure programme, stop removing government business from Post Offices and remove restrictions on Royal Mail to open up further business opportunities for the network’ - a response to the Government’s plans to close 2,500 Post Offices across Britain.

In an emotional plea, Councillor Ashworth said: “In 2005, this Labour Government was responsible for the closure of two Post Offices in the Smallbridge area of our Borough and I have seen the consequences that it has had on our community first hand. What this Government doesn’t realise is that not every person has Internet access or the transportation to go and pay their bills or send their mail. I know of pensioners who have to now take a bus if they want to use the postal services and this is simply unacceptable. Yes I agree that many of us can now buy stamps or envelopes from various shops but can you send parcels or pay your bills? The answer is no.

“What is even worse is that unlike two years ago, we haven’t even been informed about which Post Offices have been earmarked for closure. Not even the postal staff have been informed. I can tell the people of our Borough that this will not affect our campaign and we will be fighting against the closure of every post office. We still see our Post Offices as very much a vital part of our communities. It is a real shame that this government does not.”

Councillor Wera Hobhouse, who seconded the Notice of Motion said: “Since 1997, Labour has been responsible for the closure of 4000 Post Offices. Yet again we are seeing Labour cuts that will have a huge affect on our townships in Heywood, Middleton, Pennines and Rochdale. I would call on this government to seriously rethink the proposed closures and I believe that if they work to put more investment back into the postal system, these closures can be stopped.

“I am pleased that this campaign is beginning to gather pace in our Borough. It is a campaign that both myself and fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors have continuously fought for a sometime now. In fact both I and local campaigner for Middleton North, Rhoda Morgan, recently put out a 'Save Our Post Offices' petition which I am delighted to say has received a great number of responses. As Liberal Democrats we promise to do all we can to stop this unnecessary cut in our vital services.”