Release Date: 10th July 2002

Contact: Ed Townsend 029 2089 8737 or 07850 710624

Government 'must act to save post offices'

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black has renewed his call for Government action to protect post offices in Wales.

As the local government committee of the National Assembly prepared to meet Consignia managers today to discuss the threat to posts offices, Peter Black has written to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt urging her to act quickly.

Peter Black said today: "We know that as a result of plans to pay pensions and benefits directly into bank accounts that 300 urban post offices will close in Wales. Post Office closures are unacceptable as are the loss of vital services such as postal delivery. The Government needs to intervene in this fiasco before it is too late and guarantee that communities do not lose their Post Office or their postal delivery as a result of this restructuring."

In his letter to Patricia Hewitt, Mr Black writes: " You have acknowledged that the withdrawal of over the counter benefits payments will severely affect the ability of small sub post offices to survive and you have said you will take steps to minimise the damage caused.

"In urban deprived areas which are expected to face the biggest closures (since they have a very high degree of dependence on benefits income) you have announced the Urban Reinvention Programme to help refurbish post offices and maintain a minimum network. This is likely to do little more than cover over the cracks in a post office network which by then will be too badly damaged to survive.

"The post office network does not need a coat of paint - it needs to be nurtured and protected.

"In other urban areas, closures are likely to take place, supposedly on a planned basis. But the details of public consultation and appeals against closures are extremely vague. I believe you need to think again and start to take seriously this very real threat to local communities in both urban and rural areas. It is important that you provide a clear set of rules to protect post offices and that you offer an improved package of financial assistance for those threatened with closure. "

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