Government Fails to Listen on Post Offices, Says April Pond

5.42.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th May 2007

Liberal Democrats in Broadland have hit out at the government's failure to listen to the concerns of people in Norfolk over post office closures. The Government announced today [Thursday 17th May] that they will continue with their plan to close at least 2,500 post offices across the country.

Broadland Liberal Democrats have been campaigning against post office closures in Broadland and are today stepping up the fight against the Government's plans.

The Government have not published the list of post offices to be closed, but with one in five post offices nationwide set to shut it is unlikely that Broadland will escape.

Local Lib Dem campaigner, April Pond, said: "It is outrageous that the Government have ignored the concerns of local people and are continuing with their plan to close at least 2,500 post offices. That means we could lose yet more post offices here in Broadland.

"Along with many local people, I have been campaigning against the Government's post office closure plans and will now be stepping up the fight once again. A hundred and thirteen post offices have closed in Norfolk since 1999. We cannot afford see more of these valuable local resources closed.

"If, instead of initiating a further round of cuts, the Government were to adopt Liberal Democrats plans for the Post Office then they would be able to invest an additional £2 billion in the network and safeguard the future of local post offices for years to come.

"The Conservatives have nothing to offer our post offices. Only the Liberal Democrats have a fully-funded plan to save the post office."

Notes to Editors: For further information on the Lib Dem plan to save the post office network see http://www.libdems.org.uk/commerce/issues/postoffice.html.

The attached picture shows April Pond discussing the Lib Dems positive plans for post offices with Councillor James Joyce (District Councillor for Eynesford & County Councillor for Reepham) who is sub-postmaster for Wood Dalling.