Teather raises plight of Brent's Post Offices in Commons

7.59.42pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 17th Oct 2006

Sarah Teather MP is joined by Councillors Paul Lorber and Gavin Sneddon in fighting to protect Post Office services

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather yesterday illustrated the plight of Brent's Post Offices in the House of Commons.

Speaking in a Liberal Democrat led debate about the future of the Post Office network the Brent East MP highlighted the impact that closures have on neighbouring Post Offices.

The local MP has also warned that the Government's plans to scrap the Post Office Card Account which over 13,000 people in Brent use in 2010 could lead to another devastating round of closures.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"The impact of Post Office closures in Brent is there for all to see. Queues, queues and more queues. I regularly see people queuing out the door in Willesden Green as I walk to work. Post Office closures in Brent have had a severe impact on neighbouring Post Offices.

"It is the most vulnerable in our society who use Post Offices the most, such as the elderly and the disabled, we should provide them with the first class service that they deserve."

Commenting on new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats that show in Brent over 13,000 use the post office card account which the Government is planning to scrap in 2010 local Liberal Democrat Sarah Teather MP said:

"It is astonishing that the Government seems intent on destroying a service which is of such great value to so many people in the local community and the country as a whole. The post office card account offers an accessible and affordable way for thousands of people in the area to receive their benefits, yet the Government is proposing to axe it.

"Without the vital revenue stream from the post office card account, the Government is further undermining the long term viability of the post office network meaning that more even than the 3,500 post offices already closed by Labour will be put out of business."

Commenting further on an Age Concern Report published earlier this month Sarah Teather MP said:

"The Government must pay far greater heed to the effects the closure of post offices have on a community - nearly 8 out of 10 people feel that the closure of their local post office would present a loss of essential local services.

"This is yet another example of an over centralised Government entirely out of touch with local communities."

The Age Concern report findings on Post Offices can be found at http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/BBA8F3E6C959416E9437E36F9B00EBD4.asp