Help us fight post office closures

South Norfolk Councillor Michael Windridge is appealing to local Subpostmasters in the District to help fight further post office closures.

The post offices in rural areas of the County are now threatened as a result of the Government's decision to stop paying the Social Network Payment subsidy to them from March 2008.

The Government announced in May a programme of planned closures of 2,500 post offices over the next two years. These closures will be in addition to more than 4,000 branches that have already closed.

Speaking ahead of the Full Council meeting (Monday 23 July) where the issue of post office closures is likely to be debated, Cllr Windridge, South Norfolk Council's Cabinet Member for Tourism, Leisure and Economic Development said:

"Post Office Ltd has announced the timetable for Norfolk of a rolling programme of area consultations across the country. The programme, beginning now, will include analysing information of the local area including details of demographics, local plans and development proposals. That will be followed by a more detailed area planning stage starting in January 2008 and lasting for 12 weeks.

"Once the proposed list of closures for Norfolk is announced, expected to be sometime in March 2008, there will only be a six week period of consultation with Post office Ltd.

"I am inviting all local Subpostmasters in South Norfolk to a special meeting next month to help formulate this Council's response to Post Office Ltd about the rural network changes which the company is now planning.

"The fact that the Government is saying that no one in rural areas should be more than three miles away from their nearest post office is no comfort whatsoever to people and businesses in our village communities for whom their local post office is a real lifeline.

"There are 41 post offices operating in South Norfolk. Every elected councillor in this authority understands what a vital role they play, especially because of the way in which they so often help to make small businesses, such as village shops, viable enterprises.

"I am determined to explore the potential to influence whatever may be the intended closures proposed by Post Office Ltd so that decisions are not taken on commercial grounds alone.

"The sad fact is that more than 50 post offices have closed in Norfolk during the past two years.

"I believe it is this Council's responsibility to care about the sustainability of smaller communities and the more vulnerable sections of society such as the elderly, the disabled and those without transport of their own.

"We will work with other orgnisations such as Norfolk Rural Community Council and other local authorities in the County to protect such a vital social and economic lifeline which rural post offices represent."

The meeting will be held at the council offices, South Norfolk House, Long Stratton on Monday 3 September at 6.30pm.

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