Contact:        Peter Black on 07774 256123 or 029 20 898744

Release:       5 June 2002  

 

Concern for local Post Office expressed to Liberal Democrats campaigning in Morriston

 

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, has taken up concerns for the future of the Morriston Crown Post Office in Woodfield Street with Post Office Counters Limited.

 

Mr. Black was made aware of the rumours concerning the future of the Post Office as he was campaigning in Woodfield Street with local Liberal Democrat, Helen Ceri Jones.  They were collecting a petition calling on the Government to guarantee a daily collection and delivery service and to counter plans by Consignia to close 3,000 urban Post Offices around the UK. The Labour Government’s insistence on going ahead with paying pensions and benefits directly into bank accounts has put the whole Post Office network under threat as has Consignia’s recent losses.  As a result Consignia announced recently that they would be closing 3,000 urban Post Offices in the near future.

 

“Although the future of our entire Post Office network is under threat we were not aware at that time that Morriston specifically could be one of those on Consignia’s list”, said Mr. Black.  “However, a number of people came up to us to sign the petition and pointed out that they believed that an announcement on its future is imminent. If this is true then it will devastate an already beleaguered shopping centre.  At the last count there were 15 empty shops in Morriston and its status as an important local shopping is under threat.”

 

“I have rung Post Office Counters Limited to try and ascertain the plans they have for this area without any success so far. I have now written to them to seek their views on the rumours and to ask them to either confirm or deny them.”

 

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