We must fight Post Office closures in Meon Valley

12.29.21pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 19th Oct 2007

Liz Leffman and Cllr Peter Mason fight to save our Post Offices

Liz Leffman fighting to save our Post Offices

Liz Leffman, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, will fight post office closures in Meon Valley "to the very end" following news that four are under threat in the area.

Durley (Memorial Hall), Bishops Waltham (Newtown, Winchester Road) and Curdridge (Gordon Road) post offices were today (Tuesday) named by the Government as being targets for closure.

West Meon (Village Stores, High Street) Post Office is scheduled to be replaced with a part-time PO, which will restrict members of the public from using the services they desire at a time suitable for them.

All of the above news has distressed many residents who depend on their post office to live.

Liz said: "All of these post offices are vital to our local community, not just because of the services they offer, but because they are very often the core of everyday community life.

"Many residents in these affected parts of Meon Valley rely heavily on the services provided and we must fight to the end to save them."

Liz and Meon Valley Lib Dems already have a Save Our Post Offices internet petition online at www.meonvalleylibdems.org.uk.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party with a fully-funded plan to save the post office and give it a long-term future. The plan includes:

• £2 billion invested in the post office network

• New branches opening where needed

• Government services continuing to be available at the post office

• Freeing the post office from Royal Mail restrictions to let it develop new business

• A new legal requirement for the Government to maintain the local post office network

Liz added: "There are ways of sustaining post offices that will not cost excessive amounts, but the Government is more interested in saving cash and further eroding community life than helping people.

"Labour plans to shut down 2,500 post offices this year, while the last Tory government closed 3,500. Nobody but the Lib Dems can be trusted with the future of our post offices."