South Liverpool Councillor condemns post office plans

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Oct 2007

Cllr Flo Clucas, who represents Allerton and Hunts Cross on Liverpool City Council has attacked the Government for planning yet more announcements of Post Office closures.

Flo, along with City Councillor Phil Moffatt, has tabled a motion for the next meeting of the City Council (17th October)

The motion reads:

This Council mindful of the problems that will be caused to the elderly, disabled and those with young children, wishes to place on record its anger at the announcement that some 3000 post offices are to close, with the announcement for Liverpool/Merseyside closures being made on 7th November 2007.

This Council notes that the drop in business for post offices can be directly linked to the move to Direct Payments of benefits into banks, which was brought in by the Labour Government.

With post offices as the anchor facility for many local shopping areas, this Council fears that the move will see many local shops facing closure as residents are forced to travel for post office facilities, with the additional cost falling on those least likely to be able to afford it.

It further notes that Age Concern and others have expressed their disbelief that a consultation period of only 6 weeks is enough time to ensure that communities are able adequately to voice their concerns.

Council notes with regret that the closures of post offices, which highlighted by the Liberal Democrats over two years ago was dismissed as political posturing by the Labour opposition.

Council requests that the Chief Executive writes to the relevant ministers and local MPs to make them aware of the situation that many in our communities will find themselves in, should these closures go ahead.

Further, the Leader of the Council is asked to meet with local representatives of Post Office Limited, to see what assistance or joint approaches to ministers can be made to safeguard as much valued service.

More information about the City Council meeting, and other meetings, is available at www.liverpool.gov.uk