Gordon Parliamentarians call on DTI to save local post offices

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 7th Mar 2007

Malcolm Bruce discusses government plans with local post office workers

MP Malcolm Bruce and MSP Nora Radcliffe today announced their continued support for local post offices in Gordon in the wake of expected widespread closures across the country as part of the Government's restructuring programme.

The Gordon Parliamentarians have written a joint submission to the Department of Trade and Industry as part of the Government's consultation on the future of the rural Post Office network.

These latest proposals call for the closure of at least a further 2,500 local branches, on top of the 4,000 that have already been axed since Labour came to power in 1997 and the 3,500 that were closed by the previous Conservative government.

MP Malcolm Bruce said:

"The fear is that rural Scotland is set to bear the brunt of the damage to communities and vital services that these proposed closures will bring. I am seriously concerned that all our constituents in Gordon will continue to have adequate access to postal services if we face branch closures in Gordon, as we expect.

"In Gordon our post offices are invaluable centres for information and provide essential services, particularly to more vulnerable people in the community. The Government has shown a lack of imagination in providing support for these services and in providing ideas to continue to make smaller post offices more viable businesses. If the Government stopped restricting and started expanding post offices' business opportunities, the network would not need as much government support."

Mr Bruce and Mrs Radcliffe conducted a survey of Gordon's post offices in November, the results of which highlighted the irreplaceable role that post offices play in community life.

Nora Radcliffe MSP added:

"The local post office is in reality the beating heart of many communities, especially in rural areas like my constituency. It's not just stamps and pensions, it is also an opportunity to socialise and catch up on the gossip.

"I feel very strongly that we should be resisting attempts to close branches in this part of Scotland. Like many of my constituents I want to see more services being directed via the post office, and I'm angry that some have actually been taken away in recent years. We need to identify intelligent solutions to make sure the network remains viable. The axe must not fall in Gordon."