Thousands say: "Save Our Post Offices"

9.46.05pm GMT Wed 12th Mar 2008

Liberal Democrats take the petition to Downing Street

Liberal Democrats in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are stepping up their campaign to fight the government's plans to close 2500 Post Offices.

The plan to close one in every five branches was taken by Labour last year. In response, the Liberal Democrats have presented a petition signed by over 50,000 people calling on Gordon Brown to reverse his Government's Post Office closure programme. The petition was handed in to Downing Street on 11th March.

"Labour's plans to close thousands of Post Offices will hit communities hard, right across Britain," said Simon McDougall, leader of Arun's Liberal Democrats. "The closures come on top of a further 7500 already closed by both the Labour and Conservative governments.

"The Government are now telling us that the community around Norfolk Road in Littlehampton and five Post Offices around Bognor are to have the Post Offices closed down.

"Post Offices are vital facilities for local communities and their closure will hit residents hard. We must do all we can to stop these closures from taking place."

Liberal Democrat Post Office Spokesperson Sarah Teather MP said, "Gordon Brown and Labour need to listen to the people who are concerned about their plans to close Post Offices. The axing of branches means that many, often the most vulnerable, are denied access to Post Office services or face long journeys and even longer queues in other Post Offices.

"Closures also lead to the loss of other local shops and businesses, ripping the heart out of local communities.

"Once again the Labour Government is cutting local services for short-term savings while ignoring the long term damage they cause. This is no way to run a country."