Action on Post Offices demanded

Conservatives at Staffordshire County Council say the closure of post offices across the county will be bad news for local communities, particularly elderly people and those without cars.

At a meeting of the Couny Council, Clr Matthew Ellis, Conservative Spokesman for Communities and Partnerships said,

“I’m disappointed that more hasn’t been done by the County early on. Other counties have been lobbying Government and have also been in direct talks with Post Office Ltd to find alternative ways of maintaining services and securing the social and community benefits that local post offices bring.

 It’s not about throwing money at the problem but it is about creating sustainability by looking at what additional services local post offices can provide on behalf of the public sector. There is a balance between cost cutting and making sure all our communities have reasonable access to services without the need to travel very long distances. Worsening public transport in much of rural Staffordshire must be taken into account”.

The formal consultation on Staffordshire closures begins on March 31st and the vote in Parliament last week means that dozens of post offices in the county are at risk.

Conservatives are calling for Staffordshire County Council to establish a Post Office Forum to investigate sustainability options by offering professional advice and assistance in setting up community owned or mobile post offices if the Government are not prepared to take into account the social benefits lost by closing local postal offices.